Tragedy In The Triumph 130425
Ian Anderson   -   April 16, 2025

The Tragedy In The Triumph

Key Text: Luke 19:28-48

How often do we hear statements such as, ‘You’ve blown it,’ or, ‘How could you mess it up like that?’ At other times, when some special opportunity seems to be opening up for us, someone or something comes along to spoil the party! Likewise, many people turn what could be a life-changing moment into a possible negative situation because of bad choices.

Palm Sunday, signifies the triumphant entry of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. It was a day of celebration, the celebratory spirit was ringing in the air. In the midst of the joy and celebration however, we are going to look at three tragic situations that occurred.

  1. It was Tragic That There Were Some People Unwilling to Praise Jesus Luke 19:39 …some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him ‘Teacher rebuke your disciples.’
  • This was a day of much celebration and joy. As Jesus rode in, a very large crowd had gathered to give Him a rousing welcomeMatthew 21:8. They were praising Him by shouting, “Hosanna, to the son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest 21:9.
  • Luke 19:38 records, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matthew 21:10 adds, ‘the whole city was stirred up!’
  • We see praise being  ifted to Jesus in the following ways:
  • Luke 19:37 ‘The people joyfully praised God in loud voices for the miracles they had seen’
  • Matthew 21:15-16 The children praised Him in the temple shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’
  • Luke 19:40 Even the stones were waiting to praise Him.
  • However, in the midst of all this praise, it is tragic to note there was a group of people (religious leaders) who were callously unwilling to praise the Lord Luke 19:39; Matthew 21:15. Not only were they unwilling to praise Jesus but they also tried to stop the children from doing it ‘Do you hear what they are saying?’ Matthew 21:16
  • The Bible 61:3. speaks about receiving, ‘a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair/faint spirit’ So, why don’t you raise your voice and sing ‘Hosanna’ (=Save us/Save now) right now?

 

  1. It was Tragic That the Temple Had to Be Cleansed Luke 19:45 ‘And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold.’
  • The temple was the centre of Jewish worship. It would have had a majestic imposing appearance, visible from anywhere in the city. It should have been the most precious place for God’s people. But as Jesus walked in and looked around Mark 11:11, what He saw sickened Him. His heart would have broken at what He saw. According to Matthew 21:12 and Mark 11:15-16, the hallowed place of worship had been turned into a marketplace by unscrupulous salesmen and loan sharks
  • He knew that He would have to resort to drastic measures to clean up what He called ‘My house of prayer’Matthew 21:13.
  • In fact, if we take Mark 11:11 literally, Jesus did not cleanse the temple that day. Instead, He went to Bethany to spend the night there.
  • When He did go into the temple the following day and cleared it out! He compared it to a ‘den of robbers’ Mark 11:17

 

  • While we can use cleansing soaps and creams for our skin, and we can detoxify and cleanse our inner body systems, it’s only the blood of Jesus that can cleanse our sins! ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ 1 John 1:9
  1. It was Tragic That the People Didn’t Recognise God’s TimeLuke 19:44
  • Biblical prophecy was being fulfilled right before their eyes. We can make reference to Isaiah 62:11 which says, ‘Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Saviour comes!’ and to Zechariah 9:9 which says, ‘See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
  • Compare this with Luke 19:35, where it says Jesus rode on a colt. Psalm 118:26 also was shouted by the crowd of disciples as recorded in Luke 19:38. ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.’
  • Other things about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem pointed to Him being the Messiah King. Some of them were:
  1. He rode a donkey which symbolised royalty 1 Kings 1:33When David summoned Solomon to anoint him king, he sent a donkey to bring Solomon
  2. Cloaks were spread out on the ground which was a means of paying homage to royalty 2 Kings 9:13
  3. Palm branches were waved John 12:13 and then spread on the road Matthew 21:8
  4. Revelation 7:9, where a great multitude in heaven is seen holding palm branches before the Lamb of God.
  5. Jesus rode an unused animal Luke 19:30, 1 Samuel 6:7. (returning the ark to Israel)
  • Sadly, with all the signs around them, the people missed it. Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
  • As a result, in Luke 19:41-44, Jesus wept over Jerusalem and referred prophetically to its future destruction. He also spoke the painful and prophetic words of Luke 19:42-44: ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes…because you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you.”
  • Are we recognising God’s timing in the world today? Are we preparing for His coming? Jeremiah 8:7 tells us: ‘Even the stork in the heavens knows her times and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming but my people know not the rules/decrees of the Lord.’

Conclusion:

Will we give praise to our Messiah King?

Will we allow our temples to be cleansed?

Will we know, understand and recognise God’s timing in our life today?