While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.
Luke 19:11-31
Normally, on Palm Sunday preachers read the story of the triumphal entry to their congregations. Jesus, however, told His disciples another story in preparation for what was about to unfold on the first Palm Sunday. The people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, so Jesus told them a story about stewardship and obedience to prepare them for what is really going to happen. In Jesus’ story the appointed King is rejected by many of His subjects. Things are not going to be easy.
Here at Wears Valley Ranch, we begin our worship by celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord. When he leads worship, my son Andrew is always careful to say, “Jesus Christ is Lord,” because it’s true. Jesus Christ is Lord. Philippians 2 tells us that the Son of God didn’t count equality with God something to be grasped but emptied Himself. He became a servant. He became one of us. He was humbled through obedience, even to the point of death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
When Jesus Christ returns, every person living will acknowledge Him as Lord. All people who have died throughout history will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ is Lord, and He is Lord of all forever. Those who reject Him will still have to confess Him. Those who despise Him will still have to bow.
And so, before the events that are about to unfold, before He rides into town on the colt of a donkey, Jesus tells the people something that they didn’t comprehend. It is not up to them to decide who’s going to be King. God’s kingdom isn’t a democracy. There is no electoral college. God chose Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords over His kingdom forever. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father, and He came not only to save but to reign. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
When Jesus rides into Jerusalem, He is doing the Father’s will. He is going to Jerusalem, not risking His life but intentionally to give His life, because this is why He came.
Jesus approaches the city ahead of His disciples, who had not been eager to go back to Judea. They didn’t want Him to risk His life. They didn’t comprehend His intentions, even though He had told them repeatedly.
In John 11:7-16 before Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, He tells His disciples that they are going to Judea. The disciples respond, “The last time we were there, they wanted to kill you. Jerusalem is not a good idea.”
Jesus says, “We’re going.”
Thomas speaks up and says to the others, “Let’s go and die with Him.” That was “doubting” Thomas.
Jesus has already told His disciples that He’s going to die. He explicitly, repeatedly tells them that He’s going to die and that He’s going to rise again from the dead, but they refuse to hear it. It doesn’t make sense to them, so they are not willing to accept it.
As Jesus goes ahead of His disciples into Jerusalem, He is fulfilling the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 50:7:“I set my face like a flint.” He steeled Himself and was determined to go to Jerusalem and do what God, the Father, had sent Him to do.
In Luke 9:51, ten chapters earlier than today’s reading, we read another passage concerning this prophecy fulfilled: As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. As Luke retells this story later, he realizes that Jesus had been determined to go to Jerusalem for a long time. The disciples’ opinions about going to Jerusalem never had any weight.
As He leads the disciples, Jesus instructs them concerning His entrance into the city. He rides into the city on the colt of a donkey that has never been ridden before, fulfilling yet another prophecy. Jesus came to accomplish the Father’s purposes, and in doing so He fulfilled prophecies that had been spoken and written long before and had been studied for generations. God has a plan, and it cannot be thwarted.
