Christian Reflection and Prayer

And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him,
"Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." He answered, "I tell you,
if these were silent, the very stones would cry out"
(Luke 19:39-40).

 

Read Luke 19:39-44

 

Jesus enters Jerusalem with a large crowd joyfully singing
His praises. Some Pharisees come out of Jerusalem and
urge Jesus to silence His supporters. But Jesus refuses;
this King will have His rightful praise. Even if the people
remain silent, the stones themselves will cry out.

 

In a few days the Pharisees will have their way. These
praises will fall silent as the crowds begin shouting,
"Crucify, crucify Him!" Reaching the ridge of Jerusalem
Jesus begins sobbing. If only the city realized how easily
it could escape disaster. All its citizens have to do is turn
from their wrongs and trust in Jesus. Woefully, that great
peace is hidden from their eyes.

 

Jesus' tears flow because His all-knowing eyes see what
will happen here in 40 years. He sees the Roman legions
arriving, encircling the city, and cutting down the trees to
build their siege weapons. He sees violence and disease
breaking out through the doomed metropolis. He sees
starvation and plague ravaging those who remain. He sees
the Romans breaking through the city walls and savagely
attacking the last defenders at the temple walls. He sees
the temple in flames and the defenders being slaughtered,
as they turn from their Roman attackers in a desperate
attempt to extinguish the fires. He sees the temple
reduced to rubble, with not one stone left upon another.

And He weeps bitterly because all this is so needless. If
only they would recognize God graciously visiting them
through His Son.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, Your heart broke at the senseless devastation
Jerusalem would suffer because of its foolish unbelief.
Guard my heart and mind against unbelief, so I may live
with You in heaven, and not suffer eternally in hell. Amen.

 

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

... the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and
praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that
they had seen (Luke 19:37b).
 
Read Luke 19:28-38

 

Jesus has travelled to Jerusalem many times in His life, but
this trip will be the last time. Every other time He walked
through its gates, but not this time. Today He rides into the
city as Jerusalem's King, its Messiah. But the King of kings
does not ride a splendid war horse, instead He sends His
disciples to bring Him a humble donkey, a lowly beast of
burden. This animal fits Jesus' entire earthly life. He came
as the meek, humble Baby born in Bethlehem's manger;
He will lay down His life in humility on the cross.

 

The crowds are caught up in excitement. They shout
"Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord."
The term "blessed" points to the Father, who chose this
King and continues to bless Him. Even though He rides a
humble donkey, Jesus enters Jerusalem as our King,
coming to conquer our great enemies-Satan, sin, death
and hell.

 

The crowds add "peace in heaven and glory in the highest,
" the same words the angels shared with the shepherds at
Jesus' birth. Peace in heaven celebrates God's peace
coming down upon the earth through the Messiah. His
victory brings praise to God from His angels in heaven and
from all of us who have been saved by His mighty Son.

Jesus accepts this praise sweeping through the crowds
because it is right and true. He is the King riding into
Jerusalem to prepare to fight to the death to defend His
people. In a few days He will stagger out through the city
gates, carrying His cross to the battlefield.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, our great conquering King, You rode into
Jerusalem to wage war for Your people. Receive my
thanksgiving for the victory You won through Your suffering,
death and resurrection. Amen.

 

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

(Jesus said) "But his citizens hated him and sent a
delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man
to reign over us'" (Luke 19:14).

 

Read Luke 19:11-27

 

Jesus' choice to stay with the chief tax collector
 Zacchaeus divides the crowd. Some are upset Jesus
is associating with such an open sinner. Others think
God's kingdom will appear at once when He reaches the
Jewish capital Jerusalem. Jesus tells a parable that
answers both ideas.

 

The people have no trouble picturing His story of a
nobleman traveling to a distant country to have himself
proclaimed king. That was the way the Roman Empire
worked. Herod the Great left the land of Palestine and
travelled to Rome before Emperor Augustus proclaimed
him king. Only then could he return to rule.

 

Jesus pictures Himself as that nobleman-the great Son of
David and Son of God. Instead of beginning His reign when
He enters Jerusalem, He will be murdered by His enemies.
But after His resurrection He will leave the earth, ascending
into heaven where the Father will proclaim Him King. Then
on the Last Day-and not until that Day-Jesus will return to
reward His faithful servants and establish His kingdom on
the new earth.

 

Now Jesus turns to His enemies. He has shown great
patience, humility, grace, mercy and love toward them, but
they have hated Him, without cause. He warns that the time
of judgment is coming. He will return with His angel armies
to capture His enemies and slaughter them.

 

To our ears that judgment sounds harsh. But Christ your
King has given you fair warning. If you will not bow your knee
to Him in faith, you will forfeit your life and suffer eternally
in hell.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Almighty God, You have established Your Son as the Ruler
of all things in heaven and on earth. Break through my
rebellious heart that I may love Him and serve Him now and
through all eternity. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries