HOSANNAH TO THE KING!
Luke gives us, in the 19th chapter of his gospel, the account of the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem as his personal ministry draws to a close. As our Lord makes his way down the western slope of the Mt. of Olives, descending toward the Brook Kedron, we are told, in
Luke 19:40:The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto Him, `Master, rebuke thy disciples.' And he answered and said unto them, `I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out!'
Let us consider briefly some of the thoughts contained in these verses and those that immediately follow.
My first thought is the contrast between this acclaiming of the King as he enters into Jerusalem and the crown of thorns he wears as he is led out a few days later to be crucified. Our thoughts are also drawn to that glorious time in the future that is prefigured here when His feet shall again stand upon the Mount of Olives and He shall again enter into the City of David; Not with a multitude of disciples which will soon melt away, but with an innumerable company of redeemed, glorified saints; Not to receive a crown of thorns in mockery, but to be crowned King of Kings!; Not to have a reed scepter scornfully placed into his hand, but a rod of iron with which he shall rule all nations!
We are made also to think of the words of the Pharisees, Master, rebuke thy disciples! How like the attitude of so many yet today! `It's all right to be a disciple but just keep quiet about it!' It's all right to discuss politics even if folks do get a little heated up about it; It shows that your are aware of the needs of your nation and community. It is acceptable to discuss movies, books and even sin and immorality if you don't come on too strong and condemn them outright. You can talk about anything under the sun and get as excited as you please about pollution, saving the wildlife or the environment; or even get worked up about the relative merits of professional athletes; But Don't Get Too Excited About Christ, or folks will think you are some kind of a freak. You might even offend them!
It is time for God's people to get excited! The King Is Coming! The church in Jerusalem did not grow and prosper through members who were so reserved that they never mentioned Christ except in their Church services and hymns! They went EVERY WHERE preaching the gospel! It was not by being secret disciples and keeping silent that the Apostles were able to `turn the world upside down' with their preaching, Acts 17:6.
Of course we would like to see huge numbers of souls saved and added to our churches, but it is not the statistical numbers that will be effective in his service. It is disciples who refuse to be silenced in their praise and testimony of the Lord!
The answer of Christ to this demand of the Pharisees brings other thoughts to our mind. "I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out!"
Would God, indeed COULD God allow His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, go un-acclaimed? He has never yet been left without a witness. When every thought and intent of mans hearts was only evil, he raised up Noah, a preacher of righteousness. When all nations were given to idolatry, He called Abram out of Ur. When Israel was hopelessly bound in Egyptian bondage he sent Moses to set them free. Time and again when His people turned from Him He sent prophets to remind them of Him and His goodness and of judgement to come.
But the question might be asked, did all these really preach Christ? The answer is given emphatically in Acts 10:43 "To him give all the prophets witness that through his name, whosoever believeth in him should have remission of sins!
Faith in Christ is the ONLY means of salvation now and it is the only means that ever has been provided. If man will have the righteousness of Christ imputed to him today, it must be done as with Abraham. Abraham believed God and IT (his belief) was counted unto him for righteousness!
Rom.4:3; For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Gal.3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
God has never left the world without a witness to His Son. David said that the heavens declare his glory. At his birth the angelic host sang his praises. During his personal ministry on earth his works and his words gave testimony to his heavenly character.
John spoke of him, saying (John 1:14)`And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth!'
He said concerning the church he established while here, (Mat 16:18) the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We can follow his church down through the centuries first by its marvelous growth as recorded in the book of Acts, then by the bloody footprints of saints through the persecution of the dark ages as men chose death rather than compromise the truth, and finally as the Gospel is still preached in all its power and simplicity today!
Christ was proclaimed on that day with `Hosannahs' as King. today we still proclaim his as King. He is coming soon and He will sit upon David's throne as King. He would sit as King of your life right now if you will only allow it.
One more thought would we get from this lesson. As he came near the city, He wept over it and said, (Lu 19:42)"If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hidden from thine eyes!"
He wept as he thought of the terrible destruction that was soon to come upon that great city. Their eyes were blind to the written prophecies and their ears were stopped so they couldn't hear the warnings. They worried not about the things to come, but were concerned with having plenty and pleasure now!
They were truly the NOW generation of 2000 years ago. If only they had known! It is easy to make light of judgment and make jokes about Hell now because it is not real to you yet. But just as the siege and destruction became real to those in Jerusalem as the armies of Titus laid it waste, so will the judgment of an almighty God no longer be a laughing matter to those who are caught in it.
There was still time for them to repent as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. Friend, there is still time for you, too. This is your day. Won't you see the things that belong to your peace? Your only hope of peace with God lies in this One whom we now proclaim to you. Christ who died for your sins, was raised for our justification, reigns now in heaven making intercession for his own and is coming soon as King of kings and Lord of lords. Receive him now into your heart as your savior and as your King!
DO YOU LOVE ME?
Hear the words so softly spoken?
Let them fall on trembling heart.
Do you love me? says the Master,
Then from our eyes the tears must start.
As we think of hands so wounded
And flesh so bruised and torn;
Of lips so parched and thirsty,
and brow so pierced with thorns;
Then we see OUR hands so busy
with things so often vain,
and from our lips, instead of love
fall words that bring such pain.
Let the words then sink in yielded heart
and search out fault and sin.
Do you love me, says the Master,
more than love of praise of men?
Do you love me says the Master,
It doesn't matter what you say,
If you return just HALF His love
you'll follow ALL the way!
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