Matthew 21.1-11
Luke 9:51 As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
The journey to Jerusalem began months before. Jesus left Galilee, went to Judea and then onto Jerusalem for Passover.
Jerusalem was in the mind of God before the creation of the world! The city was part of His plan to bring salvation to the world.
Ezekiel 5.5 "Thus says the LORD GOD, 'This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her.'"
Psalm 122.2
Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 122:3
Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure."
Psalm 125:2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Psalm 128:5
May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
Psalm 135:21
Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 137:5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill .
Psalm 137:6
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
Jerusalem has such a unique history.
From Genesis to Revelation.
It has such an important part in Israel's history, including its present and future.
Galatians 4:25-26 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
The map in the church in Medeba, Jordan showing Jerusalem as the center of the world, the naval of the earth.
It is the scene for what we will celebrate and commemorate the next 7 days.
Jesus knew He was going to die there. He knew this from the creation of the world. He had told His disciples many times.
Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
This very day John records in his gospel: John 12:27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
A few months before:
Luke 13:31-33 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
Why Did He set His Face Towards Jerusalem?
1. He is the Master of Love
John 2.23-25
Many scholars believe there were two cleansings of the temple this one here in John2.13-22
John 4:45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.
Accepted in Galilee
Rejected at Jerusalem
He loved Jerusalem.
Luke 13:34-35 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.’”
For God so loved the world...
He set His face towards Jerusalem because He is the Master of Love.
He also loves the Father and...
2. He knew it was God's will.
Abraham offered Isaac there.
The temple was there.
It is in God's plan for the future.
Christ will come. Set up His Kingdom on earth there.
The New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven.
John 8:28-29 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. The one who sent Me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”
He is the Master of Love.
he knew it was God's will...
3. He was the Man of Sorrows
Isaiah 53.3 Sorrows= pain both physical and mental
Suffering= weak, sick, wounded
We often picture Jesus healing the sick, calming the storm, feeding the multitudes. He did those things. He had compassion on people, deep compassion. He went to the cross to free us of both the power and penalty of sin.
Matthew 21:10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
Stirred = sio- to rock, vibrate sideways and to and fro, to agitate, to tremble, throw into a tremor
The Master of love, going in God's will, The Man of Sorrows and
4. He Knew Jerusalem was not going to be His final work.
We look on Jerusalem so differently than Bethlehem, the place of His Birth. Think about the songs of each. Bethlehem is embraced and adored. Jerusalem is bittersweet to followers of Jesus. It is here our LORD was rejected. Here He was beaten and pierced Here he was crucified. Here He died. It shows us the ugliness of sin.
Jerusalem treated him differently than Galilee.
Yet we also know that here He rose again. He came out of the tomb. Here He appeared to His disciples. Here He ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives.
John 4:21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. "
Holy Week began with His arrival in Jerusalem on Saturday, the anointing by Mary.
As Pastor Dennis told us a few weeks a great portion of the Gospels are devoted to this final week of Jesus on the earth. We can literally walk with Him this week. It can be (and should be) a time of growing closer to Him. Extra services, Bible Studies, Good Friday... let's connect with Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment