This week’s ongoing Biblical study series on the Social Gospel Blog with Rev. Paul J. Bern will be part 3 of Luke chapter 19

Jesus Gets Rock Star Treatment, Forcibly Clears the Temple Courts

(Or, How Jesus Sealed His Fate Upon Entering Jerusalem)

(Luke chapter 19, verses 28–48)

Jesus is my Rock

Last week when we left off at verse 27 of Luke’s gospel chapter 19, Jesus had just finished telling the parable of the ten ‘minas’ as he spoke about using that which God has instilled within us since before we were born. We as followers of Christ are charged with the responsibility of being diligent stewards and serving Christ with as much distinction as we can. We as a united people will continue to journey through life with our Savior towards our ultimate goal, which is to spend eternity with him when our earthly lives are over. This week as we move on to part 3 of Luke 19, Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem with the Twelve, as they were on their way to celebrate Passover at the main Temple there. As we will see, Jesus’ arrival on the outskirts of Jerusalem as he made his way into town was met with a tumultuous welcome. So let’s go there now with Jesus and his apostles as they make their way through two small villages just north of Jerusalem, starting at verse 28.

“After Jesus said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’, tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’ They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 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: ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of…