Luke 19:28, “28 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.”

• In verse 28 we see the phrase, “After He had said these things” and this is a literary cue to say, “What things?”
• In the previous verses Jesus presents a parable about the urgency of living in His Kingdom on earth, and then in verse 28 Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem.

Now you need to know the context of Luke 19 is taking place during the Passover season. Passover goes back to Exodus when Moses leads Israel out of bondage in Egypt, when the angel of death passes over every house covered by the blood of the lamb, and in Luke 19 everyone, possibly millions of people, are headed to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.

Luke 19:29-30, “29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.”

• Bethphage and Bethany are small communities outside of Jerusalem.
• The word, “colt” in the original language is simply a young, untrained animal.
• The Gospel of Matthew uses the word “donkey,” Mark and Luke use the word “colt” but the key is that this animal is untrained, unimpressive and about to become the launching platform for Jesus to enter into Jerusalem where millions of people are gathering to celebrate Passover.
• Kings rode into cities on horses for battle, kings rode into cities on horses to celebrate victory, kings rode into cities on these giant warrior horses with hundreds and thousands of soldiers to symbolize their power, authority, victory, and in Luke 19 Jesus is riding in to Jerusalem on an untrained, unimpressive colt.

Luke 19:31-34, “31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord has need of it.”

• At first glance, it could look like Jesus is directing the disciples to steal the colt, but you need to understand how disruptive Jesus has become at this point.
• Just before Luke 19 Jesus is in Bethany raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11), and when you raise someone from the dead it gets some attention. Does that make sense? People were talking about Jesus, familiar with Jesus, so when they say, “The Lord has need of it” they would have understood the animal was for Jesus.

Luke 19:35-36, “35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.”

• This is fascinating. Do you know what happens when you jump on the back of an untrained, unimpressive animal? Go back to verse 30, “No one has ever sat on this animal.” Do you know what happens when you jump on the back of an untrained animal?
• In verse 35 Jesus is getting on the back of an untrained, animal and it is a picture of humility, but it is also a picture of glory, because Jesus just rides the untrained colt into a crowd of people.
• It is humility because the colt is unimpressive, but it is glorious because Jesus just jumps on, and rides the untrained colt through a crowd of people throwing coats at their feet. It’s humility and glory.

Luke 19:37-38, “37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

• This probably doesn’t jump off the page to most of us, but verses 37 and 38 are Old Testament promises about a savior being fulfilled in Jesus.
• Zechariah 9:9 it says, “Rejoice greatly, oh daughters of Jerusalem, behold your king is coming mounted on a colt” and in verses 37 and 38 the crowds of people are thinking, “The promised king of Zechariah 9:9 is here.”
• When you see the phrase, “Blessed is the King” they are not just talking about “a king” to march into Jerusalem during Passover, and do some kingly things, but in that moment they are declaring Jesus to be the Ultimate King.
• The reference is annotated in verse 38 because it is from Psalm 118, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Again this an Old Testament promises about a savior being fulfilled in Jesus.

Luke 19:39-40, “39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

• In verse 39 the religious leaders understand what is taking place. The religious leaders understand Jesus is being identified as the “Ultimate King” and in verse 40 Jesus responds, “If they don’t acknowledge My glory, the stones will acknowledge His glory.”
• Isaiah 55 and Psalm 96. In Isaiah 55 and Psalm 96 it says, “Then the mountains and the hills, and the trees will burst into song for he comes to rule the earth.” Jesus is the Ultimate King over all of creation.

In what areas of our lives are we kicking and bucking only to find out that there is life, power, and goodness with Jesus as the Ultimate King in our lives today?  Are there areas of our lives where we are trying to keep Jesus casual? Are we kicking and bucking passively, through avoidance? Lets surrender our lives to Jesus today. Jesus is full of humility and glory. Lets come home to Jesus.