THROUGH THE BIBLE STUDY

LUKE 19:1-20:19

We once had a church member who worked for the IRS, but
no one ever knew. People who collect your taxes don’t like to
mention it at the parties they attend.
Tax collectors tend to keep a low profile.

And that was surely the case with Zacchaeus. For if today’s
tax collectors are not the most popular people at the party,
that was especially true in Roman times.
The extravagances of Rome were funded by taxes collected
among the colonies. The empire would hire a local person,
provide him with military force, assign him a collection quota,
and then let the fellow pocket whatever he gathered above
what he owed Rome.
And Zacchaeus was Rome’s man in Jericho.

Zacchaeus was getting rich off the backs of his own

countrymen - the Jews. And only one thing could cause a
man to absorb the ire of a whole community - greed.
More than respect, or popularity, or patriotism, or peace
Zacchaeus desired to be rich. Among the Jews in Jericho
Zacchaeus’ approval rating was just a little higher than the
United States Congress.
Yet by the end of the day, everything will change.
An amazing transformation will take place. Zac will go from
greedy to generous. He’ll experience a turn-around in the
eyes of the public. And it’s all because of his encounter with a
man named Jesus of Nazareth…
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 Chapter 19 begins, “Then Jesus entered and passed
through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named
Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.”
Notice he was the “chief” or “arch” tax collector.
Zacchaeus was the big wheel in a corrupt system.
He was the regional authority for Rome. He had underlings
working for him. This made him most hated.

“And he sought to see who Jesus was…” Zacchaeus had

heard a lot about Jesus. One of his colleagues, a Galilean tax
collector was now a follower. Levi had been so transformed
he got a new name, Matthew.
Perhaps the two men knew each other. Imagine, Matthew
and Zacchaeus grabbing a falafel together for lunch, and Levi
recounting his story… Zacchaeus had heard enough about
Jesus to want to see for himself.
It was dangerous for such a hated man to venture out into a
crowd unprotected. Yet there was such a longing in his heart
for forgiveness, for freedom, for acceptance, for purpose that
he combed the parade route for a perch from which he could
see Jesus.

“But (he) could not (find a place) because of the crowd, for
he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into
a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that
way.” We learn here that Zacchaeus was vertically
challenged. He was a short fellow and the taller guys had
lined the streets. But Zac wouldn’t be denied, so he shimmied
up a sycamore.
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 He goes out on a limb in search of a new life.
“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw
him…” I imagine Jesus chuckling. It was a comical sight - a
dignified city official literally up a tree.
And Jesus initiated the conversation, “(He) said to him,
"Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must
stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and
received Him joyfully.” It may’ve been quite some time since
Zacchaeus had smiled.

Andrew Carnegie once said, "Millionaires who laugh are

rare. My experience is that wealth is apt to take the smiles
away." I've heard it put, "Money will buy a fine dog, but only
love will make him wag his tail."
Zacchaeus had loads of money, but it had been a while
since he’d wagged his tail. Until Jesus came to his house, joy
and Zacchaeus were total strangers.
Lonely Zac didn’t get many dinner guests. In the ancient
world to enter a home - to share a meal - was the ultimate act
of acceptance. This is why when Jesus entered his home,
“He received Him joyfully.”
Zacchaeus was so overwhelmed by Jesus’ show of grace
he’ll want to follow Him for the rest of his life. It’s amazing
what just a little bit of love will do to revive a heart. This man’s
whole life changes on one invitation.

Once a children's hospital employed a tutor to help their

patients keep up with their school work. One day the tutor
was called about a student in the burn unit. The little boy
needed help with his English grammar.
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 When the tutor visited, she wasn’t prepared for the severity
of his condition. He’d been burned over most of his body. She
didn’t know what to say. Finally, she offered to help him with
his nouns and verbs. Later, she was so embarrassed by her
suggestion. It seemed silly to mention grammar to a child
fighting for his life.
The next day when the tutor saw the burn unit nurse she
apologized for her awkwardness. But the nurse told her, "You
don't understand. We've been worried about that boy for
weeks. Yet ever since your visit his attitude has changed.
He's fighting back, responding to the treatment... It’s as if he
has decided to live."
Later the little boy explained, "It dawned on me, they
wouldn't send a teacher to work on nouns and verbs with a
dying boy?" The tutor’s visit had given him hope.

This was Zacchaeus’ logic. Jesus wouldn’t visit a hopeless

cause. Evidently, Zac wasn’t out of God’s reach after all. No
one is beyond the grasp of His grace
Jesus even has plans for rotten, greedy traitors.

“But when they (the Jews in Jericho) saw it, they all
complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man
who is a sinner." Like the prodigal son’s older brother, they
didn’t understand the heart of God.
It reminds me of a story I heard during Bill Clinton’s
presidency. A Baptist pastor was so upset with the immorality
that had gone on in the Oval Office, he said of the president,
“Don’t you understand this man doesn’t deserve grace!” Yet
by its very definition grace is something no one deserves. It’s
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love that’s initiated by God, not prompted by us. It’s favor
that’s unearned.

But once grace is received its impact is explosive, verse 8,

“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I
give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything
from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." Here’s
the outward evidence of Zacchaeus' inward transformation.
He pledges half his income to charity, and restores the people
he cheated four-fold. Real repentance will repair the damage
done and make restitution to the people it has offended.
After this transformation, Zac could have been elected
mayor of Jericho. What a difference Jesus makes!
“And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this
house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of
Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Rather than judge and condemn the Zacchaeuses of this
world, Jesus seeks and saves.

Verse 11, “Now as they heard these things, He spoke

another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and
because they thought the kingdom of God would appear
immediately.” It was a reoccurring misconception, yet again
here it’s gaining momentum.
In a few days, the crowds in Jerusalem will lay out palm
branches across His path, and hail Jesus their Messiah.
They’ll expect Him to lay out His plans for the overthrow of
Rome and launch a political revolution.

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 But by mid-week, the Jews are so disillusioned with His
response they cry out for His blood. They wanted a visible,
tangible kingdom. God was at work spiritually.

“Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far

country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he
called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas…” A
“mina” was said to be three months of “a working man’s
wage” - a sizable sum.
“And (the nobleman) said to them, 'Do business till I come.’
Then verse 14, “But his citizens hated him, and sent a
delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to
reign over us.' And so it was that when he returned, having
received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to
whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he
might know how much every man had gained by trading.”
In a sense, we’ve living today in between verses 14 and 15.
Jesus is the nobleman who has gone to heaven - “a far
country” - but He’s promised to return.
While He’s been gone, an uprising has occurred. Citizens of
earth have revolted and challenged His authority. They will
certainly be punished. But when He returns He’ll also hold His
servants accountable for what we did in His absence. Jesus
commanded us to be about His business. How faithful have
we been with what He gave us? Have we made good
investments?

Hear again the words of Jesus to His servants - to us… “Do

business till I come.” Jesus is coming back soon, but that
doesn’t mean we can opt-out of society.
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 His coming is no reason to quit your job, or drop out of
school, or sale your belongings, or move to a mountain top to
wait on Him. Our job is to “do business.”
Whatever business God has called you to do, it’s your job to
get it done. It’s been said, "Live as if Jesus were coming back
tomorrow, but plan as if He weren't coming back for 10,000
years." A Christian’s future hope should motivate, not
paralyze our present.

“Then came the first (servant), saying, 'Master, your mina

has earned ten minas.'” This fellow had managed to produce
a profit - a tenfold return for his Master.
And here’s his reward… “And he said to him, 'Well done,
good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have
authority over ten cities.’” Notice, faithfulness to God in this
life is rewarded with position and authority in the future
kingdom Jesus will build on earth. Stay at your post and fulfill
God's calling, and you’ll be a governor or mayor in God’s
future kingdom.
Faithfully serve now, and you’ll reign then. But fall asleep on
the job now and you’ll end up Dog Catcher.

Verse 18, “And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina
has earned five minas.' Likewise he said to him, 'You also be
over five cities.' Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is
your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For
I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect
what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you,
you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man,
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collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not
sow.” This servant had misread his Master. His Boss was
known to be clever and cunning. He was a risk-taker - a
shrewd businessman.
And we too need to make sure we don't misread our Master.
Jesus is still known for His risky and radical maneuvers. What
a risk to leave the halls of heaven and be born an infant in a
sin-stained world. The Almighty became dependent on a
teenage mother.
I love GK Chesterton’s comment on the Incarnation. "Alone
of all creeds, Christianity has added courage to the virtues of
the Creator." Jesus was not afraid to take a colossal risk to
love us and reach us and save us.

The Master addresses his timid servant in verse 23, “Why

then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming
I might have collected it with interest?’
And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him,
and give it to him who has ten minas.' ("But they said to him,
'Master, he has ten minas.') For I say to you, that to everyone
who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even
what he has will be taken away from him.” In the spiritual
realm always remember the rich get richer and the poor get
poorer.
When we use what God gives us, He gives us more.
God wants us to be a pipeline, not a holding tank. Blessings
should flow not just into us, but from us.

An article appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was written

by columnist Ann Wells, "My brother-in-law opened the
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bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-
wrapped package... He discarded the tissue and handed me
the slip. It was exquisite. Silk, handmade, and trimmed with
lace. A price tag with an astronomical sum was still attached.
"Jan bought this nine years ago on a trip to New York City.
She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. I
guess this is that occasion."
He took the slip and put it on the bed with the other clothes
we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the
soft material for a moment, then slammed the drawer, and
turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day
you live is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days

that followed. I'm still thinking about his words, and they've
changed my life...
I'm not "saving" anything! We use our good china for special
events like losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the
first camellia blossom...
Words like "someday" and "one of these days" are fading
from my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing, or hearing, or doing, I
want to see, hear, and do it now…
Every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself that it is
special.” Here’s the lesson… Horde God’s blessings and He’ll
take them away. Use them for the good of others and His
glory, and He’ll multiply them.

But notice how the parable ends. Remember the people

who were part of the uprising against God…
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 Jesus addresses them, “But bring here those enemies of
mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them
before me.'" Wow, gentle Jesus meek and mild, will return to
Earth in awesome, lethal power to crush His enemies and
rule with a rod of iron.
Jesus means business, so be about His business!

“When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to

Jerusalem.” Realize, Jerusalem is situated in the hills of
Judea. It actually sits on top of five hills - north is Mount
Scopus, southwest is Mount Zion, the city center is the
Temple Mount or Moriah, south of Moriah is Ophel, and east
of the city is Mount Olivet or Olives.
And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and
Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet”(Bethany is on the east
slope of the Mount of Olives, just below the crest of the hill)
Jesus is coming into Jerusalem from the east. And “He sent
two of His disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite you,
where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one
has ever sat. Loose him and bring him here.
And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you
shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' " So those
who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said
to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it
said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said,
"The Lord has need of him." Oh, that we were like the owners
of that colt, and yielded whenever the Master had need of us.

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 “Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own
clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.” They made
an impromptu saddle for Jesus.
And notice the miracle… A young donkey that had never
been ridden is saddled up and stationary under the weight of
its first passenger. Normally, an untamed animal would need
to be broken and harnessed.
But this colt instinctively senses that he needs to submit to
the Master. This is no ordinary rider! Jesus is once again
demonstrating His mastery over nature.

Verse 36, “And as He went, many spread their clothes on

the road.” They’re still east of the summit.
As they spread out their clothes along the path. The other
Gospels also mention how they lined the street with palm
fronds - the Jewish way of rolling out the red carpet. They
were giving Jesus the royal treatment.
“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the
Mount of Olives” (He’s topping the hill now. A panoramic view
of Jerusalem is before their eyes.)
“The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and
praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had
seen, saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of
the LORD! 'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" The
crowd lining the street begins to chant Psalm 118 - a song
written about the Messiah 1000 years before His arrival on
this day.

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 Here’s the only public demonstration Jesus ever
orchestrated. And He did it to fulfill prophecy. The day’s date,
to the best of our recollection, was April 6, 32 AD.
If you study Daniel 9 you’ll discover this was a date
predicted by the prophet Daniel. It was the exact day Messiah
would present Himself to the nation Israel.
Daniel 9 teaches that 69 periods of 7 years or 483 years
would elapse from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the
presentation of the Messiah.

The decree by the Persian Emperor Artaxerxes to rebuild

Jerusalem was issued on March 14, 445 BC.
Daniel was using the Babylonian calendar which consisted
of 360-day years. Thus, mark off what amounts to 173,880
days, and you come to April 6th, 32 AD - the exact day Jesus
makes this donkey ride.
The Jewish leaders should've known Daniel's prediction and
the importance of this day. To make sure His people didn’t
miss it, God had even spoken through the Prophet Zechariah,
9:9, "Behold your King is coming to you; he is just, and having
salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a
donkey.” Not like a king on a horse, but humbly on a donkey.
This was the day the pieces of the puzzle should've come
together for Israel’s leaders. They were aware of prophecy.
How God would affirm His Son. But rather than connect the
dots, they hardened their hearts.

Verse 39 “And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the

crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." They knew Psalm
118 spoke of the Messiah. And Jesus was basking in its
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praise. They wanted Him to rebuke the crowd. “But He
answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should
keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." I really
wish the disciples had shut-up for a minute or two. It would've
been cool to hear the original Rolling Stones praise the Lord.
This would've been some real rock music.
In fact, every time I go to Jerusalem I bring back some rocks
from the Mount of Olives. I'm hoping one day I'll hear them
sing Messiah's praise! And I suppose they would, but I keep
beating them to the punch!

“Now as (Jesus) drew near, He saw the city and wept over
it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your
day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are
hidden from your eyes.”
Imagine, this was Israel’s special day to receive their
Messiah. The day had been predicted over 500 years in
advance. But when it finally arrived - the most important day
in Jewish history - they were asleep.
And it caused Jesus to weep. He mourns over their blind,
stubborn hearts. Instead of relishing this glorious day, Jesus
speaks of an ominous day yet future…

Verse 43, “For days will come upon you when your enemies
will build an embankment around you, surround you and
close you in on every side, and level you, and your children
within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one
stone upon another, because you did not know the time of
your visitation.”

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 Jesus now makes His own prediction. He sees four decades
into the future - to 70 AD. The Roman army, led by Titus
Vespasian, will invade Israel and lay siege to the capital of
Jerusalem and its Temple.
We now know from history that the siege lasted 143 days. In
the end, the Temple was burned and the once glorious city
was reduced to rubble. An unbelievable 600,000 Jews were
killed. Many thousands more were forced into slavery or killed
for sport in the Roman amphitheaters. It was the holocaust of
Jewish people.

And on the Temple Mount not one stone was left on another,
just as Jesus said. Go to Jerusalem today and we’ll visit the
archaeological dig south of the Temple Mount. It’s known as
“The Southern Excavations.”
There today in the ravine below where the Temple stood sits
piles of huge stones that once made up the Temple
structures. These stones were toppled by Roman soldiers,
fulfilling the words of Jesus here in Luke 19, ”(not) one stone
(was left) upon another." The whole Temple platform was
leveled to the ground.
The story goes, the Temple exterior was overlaid with gold.
So when the Temple burned the gold melted and rolled into
the cracks between the stones. Roman Soldiers
disassembled the stones to loot the gold…

Verse 45, “Then (Jesus) went into the temple and began to
drive out those who bought and sold in it…”
In the Temple precincts, Jesus saw priests making a buck
off God. It angered Him. To pay the Temple tax, worshippers
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were required to swap their Roman coins for Temple shekels,
but the priests charged a hefty exchange rate, ripping off the
people and the Temple.
They also required worshippers to offer a priestly-certified
sacrifice. Of course, such a lamb could be purchased, but at
an inflated price. It was a scam.
And Jesus cleansed the Temple of these greedy priests.
Earlier Jesus cleaned house with a whip. This time Jesus
gets so mad He uses His bare knuckles.

Jesus shouts in verse 46, "It is written, 'My house is a house

of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'” Again,
Jesus quotes Scripture, Isaiah 56:7.
Churches today need to inventory their motives. Do we
make room for people and practices that are only out to make
money or are we primarily a house of prayer? Major on prayer
and we’ll weed out the crooks.
“And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief
priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to
destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the
people were very attentive to hear Him.” The religious
establishment is now looking for a way to eliminate Jesus. His
popularity is His protection.

In 1966, the Mamas and the Papas had a hit song,

"Monday, Monday.” The lyrics went, "Monday, Monday, can't
trust that day… On Monday morning you gave me no warning
of what it would be - that Monday evening you would leave
and not take me… Monday couldn't guarantee - that Monday

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evening you would still be here with me.” Sadly, the author of
those lyrics had been dumped by his girlfriend on a Monday.
And in a sense, the same tragedy befell Jesus.
On Sunday, He rode His donkey into Jerusalem to the
cheers of the crowd, but Jesus had upset the Temple trade,
threatening the power and profits of the priests. By Monday,
the Jews were so mad at Jesus they were plotting to kill Him.
As in the song, a glorious Sunday had turned into a sad,
treacherous Monday...

Chapter 20 begins on Monday, “Now it happened on one of

those days, as He taught the people in the temple and
preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes,
together with the elders, confronted Him.” I like showdowns.
High noon at the OK Corral.
Here, the villains - chief priests, scribes, and Jewish elders -
walk into the Temple to take on Jesus. A blazing confrontation
ensues. Jesus guns them down!

In verse 2 the inquisitive Jews speak to Jesus, “saying, "Tell

us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is
he who gave You this authority?"
Jesus had challenged Jewish authority. He had said to
them, "What right do you have to turn My Father's house into
a den of thieves?" Now they’re picking up the gauntlet. "Who
are You to tell us what we should and shouldn't do? Where do
you get your authority?”
They’ve made it a battle of clout. Of course, their question,
like all their questions this day, was a trap.

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 Realize, authority was a touchy subject under Roman rule. If
Jesus claimed Divine authority He could be painted as a
potential enemy of Rome. If He said He lacked authority from
God He’d lose His credibility with the masses. Either way,
Jesus answered, the Jewish leaders thought they’d be able to
accuse Him.

“But He answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one
thing, and answer Me…” Jesus answers their question with a
question of His own. “The baptism of John - was it from
heaven or from men?" The Jewish authorities had tried to put
Jesus on the spot.
But here, Jesus returns the favor… Verse 5, “And they
reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From
heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But
if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are
persuaded that John was a prophet." The Master out
maneuvers His enemies.
“So they answered that they did not know where it was
from.” They just played dumb. And by the end of the day
“playing dumb” wouldn’t be that difficult. Try to match wits with
the Master, and you end up the dimwit.

Throughout this Monday, the most brilliant minds in Judaism

try to argue Scripture with its author. They attempt theological
debate with the Theos himself.
And when you try to biblically spar with the original Bible-
Answer-Man, you only prove how dumb you are.
“And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what
authority I do these things." He’s saying, if you won’t go out
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on a limb to answer Me, why should I go out on a limb to
answer you? Round 1 goes to Jesus!

“Then (Jesus) began to tell the people this parable: "A

certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and
went into a far country for a long time.” This was a common
business arrangement in Israel. A landowner would transform
a tract of land into a vineyard - then lease it to a vinedresser
expecting a percentage of the profits come harvest time.
“Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers,
that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But
the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also,
treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and
cast him out.” This was horrible. The tenants forgot they were
tenants. They must’ve been drunk on the profits by the way
they treated the owner’s servants.
“Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do?” The
vineyard owner doesn’t want to whine! He wants to take
appropriate action. Perhaps his own son will command their
respect. “I will send my beloved son. Probably they will
respect him when they see him.’
“But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among
themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that
the inheritance may be ours.' In ancient times ownership of a
particular parcel was not always clear. These Jewish leaders
think that by killing the owner’s heir they can assert a claim on
the vineyard.

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 “So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He
will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the
vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said,
"Certainly not!" Suddenly, it dawned on these Jews, that
Jesus' parable was a prophecy. In fact, a prophecy that would
be fulfilled within the week.
Israel was the vineyard. Just a few feet from where this
confrontation occurred, carved grapevines adorned the huge
doors of the Temple - a symbol of Israel.
The Jewish leaders were the tenants. The owner’s servants
were the prophets. His Son was Jesus. After beating the
prophets, and trying to steal the kingdom from God, they’re
now poised to eliminate God’s Son.
Jesus is confronting the men plotting his murder.

Notice verse 16, the owner promises to “destroy those

vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.”
This was fulfilled in 70 AD after the Jews rejected the
witness of the apostles, God sent Rome to sack Jerusalem.
The invasion dismantled the institutions of Judaism - from the
priesthood, to the Temple.
And God’s work in the world shifted from Israel to the
Church. So much so that by the 2nd century AD the make-up
of the Church was almost exclusively Gentile.

Verse 17, “Then (Jesus) looked at them..” The Greek word

means “see through.” Jesus looked right through them. They
responded to the parable by being aghast. “Certainly not.”

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They would never kill the owner’s son. Yet that’s exactly the
treachery they were plotting.
“And (Jesus) said, "What then is this that is written: 'The
stone which the builders rejected has become the chief
cornerstone'?” Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22. It speaks of the
Messiah and His rejection by the Jews.
At the time Judaism was all about legalism, ritualism, self-
righteousness, and prejudice. Jesus was about freedom, love,
and relationship with God. The Jews thought of Jesus as an
oddball. He didn’t fit their priorities. Thus, they’ll reject Him,
yet He’ll end up the cornerstone of a new house for God - the
Church.

Verse 18 is an ominous warning. "Whoever falls on that

stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him
to powder." Come to Jesus broken, and humble, and
surrendered, and He’ll lift you up.
Or harden your heart, and He’ll grind you to powder.
“And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought
to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people - for they
knew that He had spoken this parable against them.” They
were seething in anger, but the showdown isn’t over. Their
debate with Jesus will continue…

But here’s what we’ve seen today… A little guy ends up with
a big heart after meeting Jesus… We’re to be about the
business Jesus assigns us until He comes…
Then we walked with Jesus down the Mount of Olives to a
cheering crowd. And it’s no coincidence that today, Palm
Sunday, is the anniversary of that day - the most important
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day in their history - the day prophets predicted Messiah
would be presented to His people.
And Jesus’ first order of business was to clean out the
Temple… first of its greedy practices; then second of its
blinded theology… But let’s not leave here this morning
without Jesus’ warning ringing in our ears…
We can rest on the rock that is Christ, or one day that Rock
will grind us to powder… Will you fall on Jesus, or will He fall
on you? What will you choose?

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