Welcome the King
Luke 19:28-44
The verses for this week record Jesus’ entry into the City of Jerusalem. It was in Jerusalem in approximately one week that Jesus would be crucified. The amazing aspect of the story is that Jesus knew he was going to be crucified; instead of avoiding Jerusalem, he chose to enter and be crucified out of love for the lost. He rode into Jerusalem because he had a purpose — to die for broken and lost people like you and me. Jesus is a King with a purpose.
He came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, which was a sign of humility. He is a humble King (read Zechariah 9:9). In those days a King would ride into a city on a horse with his army around him. Jesus is a humble King who came to serve others.
While everyone is cheering for him, Jesus stops and cries for the people of Jerusalem because they have rejected him and he knows they will face judgement. Jesus is a compassionate King.
Let’s look at 3 characteristics of King Jesus:
The Purpose of Jesus
The Humility of Jesus
The Compassion of Jesus
The Purpose of Jesus — Luke 19:28
Key Concept: All believers have received the opportunity (as a gift from the Lord) of working for him by word and deed, in prayer and offerings, and in many other ways. —Norval Geldenhuys
Key Verse: Luke 19:13 — Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ (New Living Translation)
Community Group Application: We become like King Jesus when we use everything we have received from God (our life, our abilities, our finances, our time, our opportunities) to build Jesus’ kingdom.
The Humility of Jesus — Luke 19:29-40
Key Concept: Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “What are you doing for others?” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Key Verse: Philippians 2:5-8 — In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!
Community Group Application: We become like Jesus when we humble ourselves and put others first in everything.
The Compassion of Jesus — Luke 19:41-44
Key Concept: Perhaps if we had more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. —Hudson Taylor
Key Verse: Psalm 126:6 — Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Community Group Application: We become like King Jesus when we have His heart — a broken heart — for people who are lost.