The Triumphal Entry & Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem

Luke 19:28–40

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.              The final week, often referred to as The Passion Week, of Jesus’ ministry begins with His entry into Jerusalem. He comes in on a young donkey, a colt, that had never been ridden. Many think Jesus had arranged for the colt to be available via his friends who lived in Bethany, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, just 2 miles from Jerusalem.

2.              Two of Jesus’ disciples, no names are provided in any of the Gospel accounts, throw their ‘cloaks’ or outer garments, on the back of the colt, then put Jesus on the animal.

3.              Descending from the Mt. of Olives (Olivet) heading for Jerusalem not more than 2 miles distant, a whole multitude (meaning lots) accompany Him into the city rejoicing with shouts of praise. Their words state that these disciples understand that Jesus is the King or the Lord’s Messiah.

4.              Among the crowd are some Pharisees who shout out to Jesus that He must “rebuke” His disciples (students). In response, Jesus says that if these follower of His would not do so “the very stones would cry out.”

5.              As this large group nears Jerusalem, as the city came into view, Jesus began to weep, and amidst the weeping He is heard to express sorrow for what would come to the city since it would experience utter devastation, to the effect that the destroyers “will not leave on stone upon another.” 6.              This “word of knowledge” came to Jesus, and it would be fulfilled forty years later (or one generation) away. And so, it would at the conclusion of a four-year war with Rome, the city would be destroyed, along with the Temple, in 70 A.D.

Jesus and Zacchaeus

Gospel Meditation

Luke 19:1–10

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         The old city of Jericho had been replaced, mostly through Herod the Great, who died about four years before the birth of Jesus, and it was a magnificent built. Only 14 miles away from Jerusalem, the road to it was well travelled and at Jericho would be a taxing booth or table.

2.         A wealthy and chief tax collector was one Zacchaeus, a Jewish man, who would have been greatly despised by most others. He must have heard about Jesus, and when learning that He was passing through the town, wanted badly to see Him.

3.         Being small of stature, he climbed upon a sycamore tree (a fig mulberry tree, branches low to the ground) because he could see over the crowds lining the path Jesus and His disciples were walking on.

4.         Jesus spotted Zacchaeus, called him to come down and invited Himself and His disciples to come to Zacchaeus’ house. When the locals saw this, Luke tells us “they all grumbled” because being a tax collector, he would he hated.

5.         Zacchaeus, a terrible sinner in the opinion of others, announced that he would give half his goods to the poor and promised to give back fourfold to anyone he had cheated.

6.         Jesus thereupon announced that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house, and He affirmed that he was a “son of Abraham.”

7.         Jesus then said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Zacchaeus was one of these.

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time & Jesus Heals a blind Beggar

Luke 18:31–43

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         On His way to Jerusalem with His disciples, along with throngs of others going up to the city for Passover, Jesus, and for the third time, says that He will be given over to the Gentiles who will mistreat Him and also kill Him. Not only that, but that He will also rise from the dead. But they did not understand Him.

2.         Crossing over the Jordan River, they come to the city of Jericho. (There were two sites for the city, the old one built by the Jews and also a newer city built by Romans.)

3.         Now a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, which was common, and there were likely many more doing this hoping for offerings from the pilgrims headed toward Jerusalem. (Matthew speaks of two beggars.)

4.         The beggar, upon hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me,” a messianic term used by Jews in that era. Jesus stopped and had the blind man brought to Him.

5.         The man pleaded for Jesus to heal him, and Jesus did so and said to him, “your faith has made you well.” And that faith would be that not only could Jesus heal him but that He was the promised Messiah.

6.         The man now became a follower of Jesus and those who witnessed it gave glory to God.

Let Children Come to Me & The Rich Ruler

Gospel Meditation

Luke 18:15–30

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Likely numbers of times parents brought their children to Jesus so that He might bless them (with a touch). In that era, children were often a burden to parents.

2.         Jesus invites children to come to Him, and such is the way we must come into the

kingdom of God.

3.         Then a rich ruler sought Jesus out. Maybe the head of a synagogue or even a member of the Sanhedrin (70 of them ruled over by the high priest).

4.         It seems that he desired to have eternal life and must have thought Jesus could show him the way.

5.         Jesus lists 5 commandments, these called the Second Table of the Law, and the ruler says he is completely obedient and observant of these laws. (see Exodus 20)

6.         Jesus then tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor, and then become His follower.

7.         The ruler declines however, too high a price to pay for him, and Jesus states how difficult it is for those who are wealthy. Using hyperbole, to help make His point, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

8.         Those who heard Jesus’ words wondered who then could be saved. Jesus says only God can do this saving work.

9.         Those who leave all worldly goods behind–perhaps referring to forgives and peace–will receive much more here on the planet, and then even eternal life.