Luke 19 - What Does True Leadership Look Like?
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 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.
Last Sunday was Palm Sunday where the church remembers the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. It begins the week we call "Holy Week", which celebrates the Lord's Last Supper on Thursday, Jesus' going to the cross on Friday, and then the great celebration of His resurrection on Easter Sunday. This entry into Jerusalem on a donkey is the climactic scene in Luke's gospel, where Jesus journeys to his ultimate destination here on earth the cross.
There are a couple of important details which shape this scene in Luke. One is the donkey Jesus road in on. Most conquering generals came in on a war horse which became like a victory parade. Jesus came in on a donkey, which was the symbol of peace and humility.
Secondly, we see that when the crowds were cheering for him and shouting "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord", a phrase indicating that Jesus was the Messiah. This words were used in the coronation of a king coming from military victory over the nations who threatened Israel. This saying was from Psalm 118, when a king would come home in a festive procession which ended in the temple giving sacrifice to God for giving him victory.
Luke uses this passage and turns it on its head. The salvation Jesus would bring is victory over sin. The sacrifice he would bring to the temple was his own body and blood. Instead of accepting this sacrifice the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and rebuked others for acknowledging that He was the true Messiah sent to save all people.
As Jesus came into the city, he saw how the rejection of His own people would not only bring the destruction of the temple by the Romans 40 years later, but also would prevent His people from experiencing the peace from His salvation. Though Jesus' parade would end up on a cross, one day when Jesus returns he will be welcomed with the words, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord."
As you prepare yourself for Jesus' Last Supper and his suffering and death on Good Friday, remember the Son of God came humbled himself in stepping out of heaven to live among us. The Son of Man humbled himself by coming into Jerusalem on a donkey. And finally, Jesus humbled himself by allowing himself to be crucified by the very people he came to save on the cross.
In his humility God exalted him on Easter morning and gave him the name that is above all names that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
That's right we serve a humble king who gave everything for his subjects. True leadership is about serving those who you have come to lead. And it is rare today.
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