The celebration of Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. The words that describe the experiences of the week are a series of emotions that represent the ups and downs of the week. We know them: hosanna (the people praising Jesus), confrontation, betrayal, denial, trial, scourging, crucifixion, tomb. Then the most electrifying sentence ever uttered—"He is not here! He is risen!"

We first think about Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is at best, as one writer says, "a day of temporary triumph before the rest of Holy Week begins. It was a day of applause. Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time.

As we prepare for Easter Sunday, we must have a right understanding of Jesus, the arriving King who came to earth and will come again. We must respond to Him in the way fitting for the King of Kings.

• As we approach Easter, how should we see Jesus?

Luke 19:32-34 shows us that: 

• Jesus arrives as the Humble and lowly King.

His arrival was much different than the norm for Hebrew kings. He came in riding on a donkey. In that day, kings and warriors rode horses; they considered donkeys undignified for kings. However, the animal Jesus used for transportation was extremely important. It fulfilled a prophesy foretold 500 years earlier. The prophet Zechariah had written that the Messiah would come riding on a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9). 

The point of this prophesy is to show that their king is going to be marked by humility. One writer puts it perspective well:

“Kings did not ride anywhere on a donkey since a donkey was a farm animal. It would be like the president being transported on Inauguration Day on a riding lawnmower. It would be so ridiculous that you might even smile or even be embarrassed. But Jesus is not the kind of King that most people expected.”  -Mark Vroegop

As we see in Jesus’ life, he didn’t come at all as people expected. All the way back to his birth—he wasn’t born in a King’s palace, (even though he is the king of kings) but was born in a lowly stable. He didn’t live the life of a king, but he worked as a carpenter in a nowhere town called Nazareth.

It wasn’t until nearly 3 years into his ministry that he made an official public appearance. (And he’s riding on a donkey). Not exactly a typical king’s entrance. And just a few days after this, he washes each one of his disciples’ feet before they gather for supper in the upper room. No king did that.

As we see at the end of Holy Week, he surrenders himself to be arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for crimes he never committed. The fully just and righteous God did not seek that same justice for himself. This king, the king of kings, had a different plan in mind. He humbly gave His life for others.

What else do we see about Jesus as he approaches Jerusalem as the coming Messiah? In any way, he didn’t come as the typical king might have in that day. 

• Jesus arrives as the merciful and caring Lord

In Luke 18:35-42, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where the dramatic events of Holy Week would play out. At this point, a great crowd already building around him. A blind man was sitting by the road as Jesus was entering the town. As he heard the crowd coming, he knew Jesus was near. The blind man cries out to Jesus to have favor, to have mercy on him. Those who were in front of the blind man told him to keep quiet. This is ironic, considering that those were probably Jesus’ followers who said that.

In verse 40, we see that Jesus stops and asked that they bring the man to him. Thankfully, he doesn’t listen to his followers, who told the man to be quiet.

The man's desperation reveals his heart. He knows only Jesus can save him. As we think about this scene (like many other times when Jesus heals people), Jesus could have done it without their participation, but we realize that Jesus’ sole goal on earth is not to heal people. One writer puts it so well: “Jesus’ healing ministry serves a bigger purpose: to demonstrate who he is and how he worthy to be trusted.”

Jesus is the almighty son of God who is full of compassion and mercy. His compassion leads shows us His heart for those who are lost and broken, those who need help only he can give.

Do you see Jesus this way? Do you see him as the gracious God ready to give mercy to those in need? Do you follow His lead? Or will we be like the crowd, like Jesus’ followers who told the blind man to go away?

An almighty king cared for a man the entire crowd overlooked and ignored. What will it look like for you to have the same heart of mercy we see from King Jesus?

In Luke 19:45-49. We see another aspect of the coming king as He enters Jerusalem. He is humble, he is merciful, and we also see that:

• Jesus arrives as the Holy and Righteous Judge

For many, it may be common to see Jesus as merciful, or even humble and meek, but what about his holiness, another aspect of his character? We see he arrives and purifies the temple.

Historians tell us that, in that day, there were merchants in the temple who were taking advantage of the people, swindling those who came to purchase an animal for the temple sacrifice. They were using the house of God for their own profits and to exploit others (especially those from out of the country) who needed to change their currency in order to give their offering.

Have you ever witnessed someone flipping over a table? It is a violent act. And to top it off, Jesus stopped the traffic into the temple, not allowing anyone to carry anything through the gates.

As we saw with his gracious interaction with the blind man along the way, Jesus is merciful and meek. But meekness doesn’t mean weakness. Rather, meekness is strength under control.

Kent Hughes defines it well: “Meekness has the strength to not defend oneself (for example, Jesus went to the cross). But meekness will boldly defend others. And on this occasion Jesus struck out in defense of the holiness of God the Father.” 

So, in one respect, the temple was the place to bring sacrifices, but it was also a place for non-believers to see what it looks like to follow God. In this way, the temple was used for evangelism. The temple merchants were defacing God’s name and God’s witness to others.

As we consider Jesus this Easter season, may we realize all the facets of his character. He is the humble and lowly king, he is the merciful and meek Lord, and he is the holy and righteous God who can’t turn a blind eye to sin. We must celebrate all of Jesus’ character this Easter season.

How will you respond to Him?

Wrong way: The response that says: “Jesus isn’t worthy of highest praise”

We see this from the Pharisees and religious leaders. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, as the people shouting praises to his name: Hosanna in the highest!—The Religious leaders were furious. Luke 19:39- Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

We also see their response when Jesus turned over the tables in the temple.

Luke 19:47:48: Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to kill him, but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.

Keeping the appearance of order and “holiness”, was all that prevented these priests and scribes from attempting to strike Jesus that very moment. They wanted him dead. Now, I don’t think any of us have had thoughts of killing Jesus. But, in our hearts do how do we react when we discover that Jesus’ character and commands don't fall in line with our desires? That’s the heart of the issue here. 

Why were the Pharisees so angry? Jesus didn’t live up to what they thought a king should be. They couldn’t reconcile Jesus with their own version of the Messiah. Instead they said, let’s kill him. He’s a traitor, he’s a fraud. That’s all they could say.

Is there a part of Jesus’ character that rubs you the wrong way?Maybe you think: “Why was he so merciful and gracious to those who didn’t follow him?” Those people who were harder to love. People like the blind man on the side of the road, people like the chief tax collector, Zachaeus (who admitted he was a thief), who Luke 18 tells us that Jesus dined with.

Or maybe it’s hard for you to put together God’s mercy and holiness. Why would God get angry like that? Isn’t he meek and mild? We must remember that He is, at the same time, the Lion and the Lamb. He expresses those traits, that may seem opposite, perfectly and completely. So then we must:

Right way: “Praise Him as we respond to who He is and how He works”

Look at Jesus’s response to the Pharisees when they demand that he quiet the crowd who was praising Him. Luke 19:40: He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”

What a display of Jesus’s nature as God. He is Lord over all creation. Think about that statement. If these people don’t praise me, Jesus says, the stones will cry out in their place. Only God can say that and mean it. What a mighty God we serve!

And because He is mighty and above all creation we can trust him. We can believe Him when He says I will never leave you or forsake you. We can trust him when He says that He has every hair on our head numbered, we can trust he will care for us.

Remember that, especially as we face confusing and uncertain times. We can trust every part of Jesus’ personality and character, because he cares for us and, and seeks our good and above all His glory.

We see another wrong way to respond to Jesus in our passage this morning. This time from the crowd.

Wrong way: “I follow Jesus because of what He can do for me”

These crowds were following him because they wanted to see what works he would do. They weren’t in love with Jesus; they were merely fascinated by his power. He had just raised a man from the dead. What would he do next? They were just along for the ride.

Are you tempted to follow Jesus because of what he can do for you? Maybe you are going through a hard time and you a need some encouragement? Maybe you think, if I follow God, then things will work out well for me, or at least better than they are now.

You know how we know this crowd didn’t really want to follow God? How many of them were still with him on Friday morning? Only a few. In fact, many of these people were the same ones who shouted “crucify him” just days later.

We must love Jesus for who He is. Not just because of what He provides for us. We must come to Him with a heart that long for Him, regardless of what we get out of deal. So then:

Right way: “I love Him for who He is and follow Him at all costs.”

As this scene unfolds, as the people were crowding around him, Jesus gives this response to those in crowd who wanted to see Him.

John 12:25-26: ²⁵ The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

A heard someone say once: As a believer, “follow me” is the sum of our duty, and “where I am” is the sum of the reward. That is true. We are saved so that we will give our lives, all of us to him. God wants our hearts; he wants us to love him, not merely because of what he might provide for us.  But, we know that we were are will one day mean that we will be with Christ, in heaven, forever. We will sit with him in untold honor.

Jesus is clear. His true followers will remain when the times get tough in this life. God honors our commitment to Christ. And we know (or we should learn) that we aren’t able to follow Christ, through all the hills and valleys of our life, in our own power. That’s impossible. We can’t do it alone. Because without His abiding presence, without his Holy Spirit leading us day-by-day, remaining with Christ is impossible. Every one of us would be like those in crowd, praising him one day, and turning our backs on Him when times get tough.

Without him, and him alone, our lives are hopeless. With Him we have everlasting hope. 

Let's embrace Holy Week together as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection our of Lord!

Pastor Sam