“When he came to the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God with loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
  ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’
‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’”
Luke 19:37-38

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Luke 19:41-44

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APRIL 8, 2025

In addition to the religious leaders, there was another present at Jesus’ entry who was not caught up in the excitement of the crowd: Jesus Himself. Going from Bethany to Jerusalem would have brought Him to the crest of the Mount of Olives from whence the temple would have come into full view across the Kidron Valley, elevated on the Temple Mount above the rest of the city.

It was at this point that the crowd began to shout joyful praise to God.

It was at this point that Jesus began to weep.

Jesus was not opposed to the people praising God. As noted yesterday, when the Pharisees asked Him to quiet the shouts of the crowd, Jesus refused and even affirmed their enthusiasm. But Jesus knew the expectations of their hearts. Even His closest disciples had a misguided vision of Jesus assuming political power like King David, restoring sovereignty to the nation Israel, and granting deliverance from its oppressors. No one in that throng knew what would really bring peace to the people of Jerusalem—except Jesus.

As God had always promised, He was bringing peace to the world by bringing peace to Jerusalem. Although no one in the crowd that day would have considered themselves God’s adversary, Jesus knew that the only way to peace was through faith in Himself.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… (Romans 5:1)

For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:10-11)

We can rejoice like the crowds coming down the Mount of Olives, but we can rejoice for the right reason. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have reconciliation with God. Jesus knew what lay ahead that week, and He knew what lay ahead for Jerusalem in the years to come. As He foretold that day, the Roman siege would destroy the city in 70 AD.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • How serious are we about seeking to understand and follow Jesus?
  • How serious are we with our responsibility to show and tell the gospel to other people?
  • How would you contrast peace with God with what the world commonly defines as peace?
  • How would you describe your experience of peace with God? How can we rejoice in God as those who have received reconciliation?

 

Church Reading Plan: Leviticus 11-12; Psalm 13-14