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Day 238

Luke 19 : 28-48 "GOING UP TO JERUSALEM" Luke 19:28"

Day 238 – Luke 19

Text: Luke 19 : 28-48

“GOING UP TO JERUSALEM” Luke 19:28

Luke made careful notes of the city of Jerusalem. He described Jesus’ journey to the Holy City as “going up to Jerusalem” (Luke 19:28). Luke also noted the name of a hill or mountain called “Olivet” (Luke 19:29) or “Mount of Olives” (Luke 19:37). This was well named because of the olive groves that once dominated the region.

The Jews always maintained a deep love for their capital, Jerusalem. The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) were fifteen psalms that were used by pious pilgrims who made their way up to Jerusalem. The Songs of Ascents were sung along the way till Jerusalem was reached.

Just how did the Jews regard Jerusalem? Let us look at some of the references made in the Songs of Ascents.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills –
from whence comes my help?”
Psalm 121:1

As Luke noted, Jerusalem was set on a range of hills. When the pilgrims thought of Jerusalem, or when they drew nearer to the city, they would first see the hills. Somehow, the hills of Jerusalem brought encouragement to the heart, to exercise faith and trust in the Lord who made the hills, and also heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2).

“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.’
Our feet have been standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem is built as a city
That is compact together…”
Psalm 122:1-3

Psalm 122 exudes a deep sense of patriotic love for their city Jerusalem. The Psalmist’s love for Jerusalem is deepened because of the fact that “the House of the Lord was situated in the city”.

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people…”
Psalm 125:2

King David had chosen well, when he made Jerusalem his capital. It was well situated with a range of mountains as it were surrounding it (2 Samuel 5:1-10).

We can imagine that as the Passover drew near, thousands of people would have moved into the vicinity of Jerusalem to keep this Ordinance given to Israel. The Passover was one of three feasts where Jews made special efforts to go to the city to celebrate it.

“AS HE WAS NOW DRAWING NEAR THE DESCENT OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES…” Luke 19:37

Luke had understood the significance of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, thus he took time to describe how Jesus was making His way up to the holy city. Each phrase must have been thought through carefully and then written.

Jesus had chosen to enter into Jerusalem sitting on a colt of a donkey. His Disciples had put their clothes on the colt so that their Teacher could be more comfortable.

As the donkey made his way to Jerusalem, they came to the base of Mount Olivet. This was where the triumphal entry began. As Jesus rode on the donkey, some of His Disciples paid homage to Him publicly.

They put their clothes on the road. This was their way of owning Jesus as Lord. As people watched this scene, soon other Disciples of Jesus joined in. Luke recorded the fact that as Jesus made His way up to Jerusalem,

“The whole multitude of the disciples
began to rejoice and praise God
with a loud voice for all the mighty works
they had seen…”
Luke 19:37

What is a triumphal entry without the crowds? But what would the multitudes say as they greeted Jesus? They had not been very sure of the identity of Jesus before. Could they recognize Him who for He really was now?

There were other Disciples of Jesus, apart from the Twelve and the Seventy. Perhaps they could not follow Jesus at that point of time. But they were now in Jerusalem. They had recognized Jesus and had remembered “all the mighty works they had seen”. Surely that was a good enough reason to “rejoice and praise God”.

ONE STEP FURTHER

As the crowds rejoiced and praised God, suddenly a song was taken up. The words were ancient but unmistakable.

“Blessed is the King who comes
In the Name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:38

The people went one step further. They now hailed Jesus as “King”. These words were taken from Psalm 118:26. Matthew in his Gospel added Psalm 118:25,

“Hosanna to the Son of David…” Matthew 21:9

The word “Hosanna” was a transliteration of the Hebrew words, “Save now” (Cf.Psalm 118:25). The multitudes cried out to Jesus to save them as their King!

The ministry of Jesus had not been in vain. There were multitudes of Disciples! They now proclaimed Him as the One who came in God’s Name. He was King of Israel!