Titled - "Going Home"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Passion Week for Christians. For the Jews, it marks a return to Jerusalem, particularly for the Feast of Passover. Due to the calendars each faith follows, these may be different weeks. Jewish holidays are celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar of old. Most all the world recognizes the Gregorian Calendar as accurate. It was 1852 when the Vatican reconfigured the Calendar under Pope Gregory XIII in order to correct an inaccuracy identified in the Julian Calendar, established by Julius Caesar in 45 AD. Both follow the progress of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Prior to either of those calendars was the Lunar Calendar which follows the phases of the moon as it orbits the Earth. The Lunar Calendar follows a different set of rules that were given to us by God as the Jewish holidays follow the phases of the moon from season to season. All the Jewish Holy Days are identified accordingly.
The Jewish holidays were days marked by travel, as the Jews traveled to Jerusalem for the celebrations. For three of the Holidays, it was mandatory each year for them to go to Jerusalem, Passover being among the three.
Psalms 120 through 134 are considered Psalms of Ascent as the Jews sang them on their trek as they “went up” to Jerusalem. Your Bible may label them as “Psalms of Degrees.” In a more literal sense for the Jews, they were Psalms sung while going home to the City of God, Jerusalem.
Psalm 122 is more specific, as it was used as they marched up the Judean Hills, and actually entered into the City of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:2 says “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.” This is what we celebrate today on Palm Sunday, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, marking His time of “Going Home.”
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Passion Week for Christians. For the Jews, it marks a return to Jerusalem, particularly for the Feast of Passover. Due to the calendars each faith follows, these may be different weeks. Jewish holidays are celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar of old. Most all the world recognizes the Gregorian Calendar as accurate. It was 1852 when the Vatican reconfigured the Calendar under Pope Gregory XIII in order to correct an inaccuracy identified in the Julian Calendar, established by Julius Caesar in 45 AD. Both follow the progress of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Prior to either of those calendars was the Lunar Calendar which follows the phases of the moon as it orbits the Earth. The Lunar Calendar follows a different set of rules that were given to us by God as the Jewish holidays follow the phases of the moon from season to season. All the Jewish Holy Days are identified accordingly.
The Jewish holidays were days marked by travel, as the Jews traveled to Jerusalem for the celebrations. For three of the Holidays, it was mandatory each year for them to go to Jerusalem, Passover being among the three.
Psalms 120 through 134 are considered Psalms of Ascent as the Jews sang them on their trek as they “went up” to Jerusalem. Your Bible may label them as “Psalms of Degrees.” In a more literal sense for the Jews, they were Psalms sung while going home to the City of God, Jerusalem.
Psalm 122 is more specific, as it was used as they marched up the Judean Hills, and actually entered into the City of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:2 says “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.” This is what we celebrate today on Palm Sunday, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, marking His time of “Going Home.”
For Jesus, these were His final steps on the way to Calvary. By the end of the week, He would be on the Cross: The Lamb of God: Sacrificed for us…
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
Sunday Morning Message:
Luke 19:28-40 - "Going Home"
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
As we enter into this wonderful week of remembering the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we know that it all began with what is commonly called Palm Sunday, that Sunday in which Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem and did so to the waving of palm branches and a hailing of him as King. And, of course, it ends with the resurrection. This is a great and glorious week for us to celebrate.
Traditionally, Palm Sunday is a day filled with meaning for us as Christians. We sing hallelujah; we’ve done it. We sing hosanna. We praise the name of Jesus. We hail him as King, celebrating his entry into Jerusalem to the praises of His people. This is a day when everything that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist said in his Benedictus would come to pass actually came to pass. Do you remember when he was told by the angel that he was going to have a child who would be the great prophet to announce the arrival of the Messiah? His response was, “This is it; this is the great moment. All that was promised to David, all that was promised to Abraham, all that was promised in the new covenant is going to come to pass.” He said, “God has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, His servant. This is salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. This is God showing mercy to us, remembering His holy covenant which He swore to Abraham. This is God bringing us to the holiness and righteousness that He pledged to us. This is God giving His people the knowledge of salvation and the forgiveness of sin through His tender mercy. The coming of Messiah,” said Zacharias, “is the sunrise visiting on us to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of everlasting peace.”
He knew that with the coming of Jesus, all of those great, prophetic elements of salvation were coming into focus. And so, Jesus comes. And He comes to do all that had been promised to David and Abraham, and promised in the new covenant to bring salvation. We now come to the end of those 33 years we come to the end of His life and His ministry. It’s really over. All that He needed to do to prove who He was is done. The announcement was made at His birth by the angels. The affirmation was confirmed by the shepherds. His perfect, sinless life was an evidence that He was, in fact, God, the Messiah, the Lord, the Christ, the Redeemer, the Savior.
Luke 19:28–40 records the triumphal entry. The triumphal entry is that of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on what we know as Palm Sunday, the Sunday before the crucifixion (John 12:1, 12). The story of the triumphal entry is one of the few incidents in the life of Jesus which appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19). Putting the four accounts together, it becomes clear that the triumphal entry was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus’ day, but to Christians throughout history. We celebrate Palm Sunday to remember that momentous occasion.
Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew says that the King coming on the foal of a donkey was an exact fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus rides into His capital city as a conquering King and is hailed by the people as such, in the manner of the day. He receives the worship and praise of the people because only He deserves it. No longer does He tell His disciples to be quiet about Him (Matthew 12:16, 16:20) but to shout His praises and worship Him openly. The spreading of cloaks was an act of homage for royalty (see 2 Kings 9:13). Jesus was openly declaring to the people that He was their King and the Messiah they had been waiting for.
Unfortunately, the praise the people lavished on Jesus was not because they recognized Him as their Savior from sin. They welcomed Him out of their desire for a messianic deliverer, someone who would lead them in a revolt against Rome. But when He failed in their expectations, when He refused to lead them in a massive revolt against the Roman occupiers, the crowds quickly turned on Him. Within just a few days, their hosannas would change to cries of “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:20-21).
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Traditionally, Palm Sunday is a day filled with meaning for us as Christians. We sing hallelujah; we’ve done it. We sing hosanna. We praise the name of Jesus. We hail him as King, celebrating his entry into Jerusalem to the praises of His people. This is a day when everything that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist said in his Benedictus would come to pass actually came to pass. Do you remember when he was told by the angel that he was going to have a child who would be the great prophet to announce the arrival of the Messiah? His response was, “This is it; this is the great moment. All that was promised to David, all that was promised to Abraham, all that was promised in the new covenant is going to come to pass.” He said, “God has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, His servant. This is salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. This is God showing mercy to us, remembering His holy covenant which He swore to Abraham. This is God bringing us to the holiness and righteousness that He pledged to us. This is God giving His people the knowledge of salvation and the forgiveness of sin through His tender mercy. The coming of Messiah,” said Zacharias, “is the sunrise visiting on us to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of everlasting peace.”
He knew that with the coming of Jesus, all of those great, prophetic elements of salvation were coming into focus. And so, Jesus comes. And He comes to do all that had been promised to David and Abraham, and promised in the new covenant to bring salvation. We now come to the end of those 33 years we come to the end of His life and His ministry. It’s really over. All that He needed to do to prove who He was is done. The announcement was made at His birth by the angels. The affirmation was confirmed by the shepherds. His perfect, sinless life was an evidence that He was, in fact, God, the Messiah, the Lord, the Christ, the Redeemer, the Savior.
Luke 19:28–40 records the triumphal entry. The triumphal entry is that of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on what we know as Palm Sunday, the Sunday before the crucifixion (John 12:1, 12). The story of the triumphal entry is one of the few incidents in the life of Jesus which appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19). Putting the four accounts together, it becomes clear that the triumphal entry was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus’ day, but to Christians throughout history. We celebrate Palm Sunday to remember that momentous occasion.
Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew says that the King coming on the foal of a donkey was an exact fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus rides into His capital city as a conquering King and is hailed by the people as such, in the manner of the day. He receives the worship and praise of the people because only He deserves it. No longer does He tell His disciples to be quiet about Him (Matthew 12:16, 16:20) but to shout His praises and worship Him openly. The spreading of cloaks was an act of homage for royalty (see 2 Kings 9:13). Jesus was openly declaring to the people that He was their King and the Messiah they had been waiting for.
Unfortunately, the praise the people lavished on Jesus was not because they recognized Him as their Savior from sin. They welcomed Him out of their desire for a messianic deliverer, someone who would lead them in a revolt against Rome. But when He failed in their expectations, when He refused to lead them in a massive revolt against the Roman occupiers, the crowds quickly turned on Him. Within just a few days, their hosannas would change to cries of “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:20-21).
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
Ascending up to Jerusalem (19:28) - The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was a steep ascent, rising some 4,000 feet in about 20 miles. This represented the last leg of the long journey that began in Luke 9:51. For Jesus, the road to Jerusalem has included miracles, parables, acceptance, and rejection. The week ahead will be eventful. First, a great crowd will accompany Him up the hill to the Temple Mount, crying His praises as king (Luke 19:36–38). But along the way, Jesus will catch sight of the city of Jerusalem and weep over its coming destruction by the Romans (Luke 19:41–44). Next, He will enter the temple courts and find them filled with merchants and venders hawking items visitors need for the Passover in the area reserved for faithful Gentiles (Luke 19:45–46). The days will continue with Jesus arguing with the religious leaders. Women will anoint Him for His death. Jesus will take time to reinforce to His disciples that a spiritual war is coming. They need to be prepared and keep their eyes on God and His coming deliverance (Luke 21:5–38). And then, Luke records the Last Supper and the cross.
Bethphage (19:29) - Bethphage is a small town near Bethany, on the southeast slope of the Mt. of Olives. It is mentioned nowhere else in Scripture except in connection with Christ's triumphal entry.
Bethany (19:29) - Jesus often stayed there during His visits to Jerusalem. Bethany is located 2 miles east of the temple in Jerusalem. This is the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11:1).
Mt. of Olives - The main peak of a ridge running north to south, located east of the Kidron Valley, adjacent to the temple. Olivet derived its name from the dense olive groves that once covered it. In the Gospel of Luke, the Mount of Olives is depicted as a place where Jesus frequently retreated to pray and spend time with his disciples. Specifically, Luke 22:39-46 describes Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives the night before his crucifixion, in what is known as the Garden of Gethsemane. This location also serves as a backdrop for Jesus' teachings on the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) and is mentioned in prophecies related to his second coming.
Colt (19:30) - The other Gospels say this was a donkey colt (cf. Zechariah 9:9), and Matthew reveals that the mare was brought along as well.
Colt (19:30) - The other Gospels say this was a donkey colt (cf. Zechariah 9:9), and Matthew reveals that the mare was brought along as well.
The Whole Multitude of Disciples (19:37) - Those following Jesus. Doubtless many in the crowd were not true disciples.
Mighty Works (19:37) - His followers rightfully praise God for the miracles Jesus has done, not least of which was the recent raising of Lazarus from the dead. John 12:17-19 specifically mentions that news of the raising of Lazarus had provoked many in the crowd to come to see Jesus.
Blessed is the King (19:38) - Quoting Psalm 118:26, they hailed Jesus as Messiah. Matthew quotes, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9). Mark's is similar: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:9–10). John has, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" (John 12:13). Likely, different people are shouting different things, including praising God for the miracles they have seen Jesus perform (Luke 19:37), but the gist is the same: Yahweh's chosen king, in the line of David, is coming to take His rightful throne in Jerusalem.
Peace in Heaven (19:38) - Only Luke reported this phrase. It is reminiscent of angels' message in 2:14. The declaration of "peace in heaven" suggests a reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus. It echoes the angelic proclamation at Jesus' birth in Luke 2:14, where peace is announced on earth. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the restoration of a right relationship with God. It signifies the heavenly approval of Jesus' mission and the ultimate peace that His kingdom will bring.
Rebuke Your Disciples (19:39) - The Pharisees were offended by people offering Him such worshipful praise. They wanted Him to stop them. They didn't believe who Jesus claimed to be. They hated Him because they could not control Him. From the Pharisees' point of view, to continue this noisy proclamation of Jesus as "king" is to tempt fate. If Pilate comes to believe that the people are joining a Jesus-led revolt against the Roman Empire, the results will be horrific. Hundreds of thousands of Jews from all over the empire flood into Jerusalem on the Passover. Pilate—infamous for his cruelty and excessively violent responses—might destroy them all.
The Stones Would Cry Out (19:40) - This was a strong claim of deity, and perhaps a reference to the words of Habakkuk 2:11. Scripture often speaks of inanimate nature praising God. Cf. Psalms 96:11; 98:7-9; 114:7; Isaiah 55:12. Compare also the words of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:9; not the fulfillment of Jesus' words in Matthew 27:51.
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