You should know that everything comes to a head toward the end of the gospel of Luke; the crowds, the religious leaders, Jesus’ followers, some of his closest disciples, the Roman officials. Oddly, none of them are painted in the most favorable light in scripture.
The crowds.
Consider the crowds. One week before Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem, he was riding a wave of popularity. News about him was spreading like gangbusters. Luke 19:35describes how the disciples prepared a colt for Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem. They threw their cloaks on the back of a colt, not wanting any part of Jesus to touch the animal’s bare back. Luke 19:37tells us that as Jesus rode along, people spread their cloaks on the road. The other gospels describe people also laying palm branches along the road. That is why we call this Sunday, Palm Sunday. The crowds didn’t want even the hooves of Jesus’ colt touching the ground. Their reverence and esteem for Christ is unrivaled. Luke 19:37-38 (NIV) tellsus, "When he (Jesus) 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 the Lord! Peace in heaven and gloryin the highest!'" So far so good, right? The crowds were welcoming Jesus Christ as their king! They were loudly announcing the peace Jesus was bringing to the whole world.
But as the crowds celebrated, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus sensed an emptiness to their celebration. By Friday, these same crowds would be chanting for the criminal Barrabas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified in his place. They would only welcome him as king for a few short days. The crowds expected Jesus to march into Jerusalem and forcefully establish his political kingdom. Once they realized Jesus had no intention of overthrowing the Roman government or of fulfilling their expectations, they would turn on Jesus.
In Luke 19:42(NIV) Jesus rebukes the crowd, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace- but now it is hidden from your eyes." The crowds celebrated the arrival of Jesus Christ, their king, but Jesus wept that he wasn’t truly their king. Their reverent acts of worship were empty. Their words were devoid of commitment. Their hope of peace was shortsighted. Their hearts were stubborn. Jesus wasn’t as interested in seeing them lay down their cloaks and palm branches as he was in having them lay down their crowns and wholly giving themselves in service to his kingdom.
The religious leaders.
We also find things coming to a head between Jesus and the religious leaders. If anyone could have verified the truth of Christ’s identity, it should have been the Pharisees, Sadducees, teachers of the law, elders, leaders and chief priests. But they weren’t interested in the truth. They had corrupted the temple and were adept at manipulating the Jewish people toward their own selfish ends. They had turned the temple into a lucrative commercial enterprise, instead of letting it be a house of prayer. In Luke 19:45Jesus overturned their money tables and angrily drove them out of the temple courts. They should have known better, but they were greedy.
Instead of repenting, they confront Jesus in Luke 20:2 (NIV). "'Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,' they said. 'Who gave you this authority?'" The religious leaders had no intention of submitting to Christ’s authority. They wanted to discredit Jesus. Have you ever noticed that sometimes it is easier to discredit someone than to takehim seriously or to truthfully evaluate his claims?
The religious leaders questioned Christ's authority.
The religious leaders questioned Christ’s authority in order to discredit him. But Jesus challenged their authority. He exposed the religious leaders as mockers. Mockers are people who treat someone with scorn and contempt. Their goal is to frustrate and humiliate their opponent. They want to discredit their target by making him appear silly or ridiculous. Deep down,mockers are full of pride and envy. In Luke 20:2the religious leaders question Jesus’ authority in clearing the temple. In Luke 20:20they try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. In Luke 20:27they try to trap him with theological controversy over marriage and ressurrection.
In Luke 20:9-17(NIV) Jesus tells a parable that reveals the true heart of these religious leaders. "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. When the people heard this, they said, 'May this never be!' Jesus looked directly at them and asked, 'Then what is the meaning of that which is written: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone?'"
In Luke 20:41Jesus forces the religious leaders to come to terms with his identity as Son of God. He wasn’t interested in their questions. He wanted them to come to terms with his identity. He wanted them to stop and consider what they refused to see.
The disciples.
From here, we happen across a conversation between Jesus and his disciples in Luke21. Luke 21:5 (NIV) says, "Some ofhis disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God." By way of historical note, the Jewish temple was one of the most splendid structures ever constructed by man. With its large stones, it was thought to be strong and invincible. Since so many gifts were given to the temple from around the world, officials kept adding to a golden vine that was part of its ostentatious glory. The disciples must have marveled about how the temple, with all its surrounding structures, must have sparkled in the sunlight.
But in Luke 21:6(NIV) Jesus says, "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." Throughout the rest of Luke21 Jesus warns his disciples about the signs that will lead up to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. He also warns them that he will one day return to judge the earth to redeem his people. In Luke 21:25-28(NIV) Jesus says,"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Jesus warned the disciples to pay attention to the signs of Jesus' return.
In Luke 21:29-36(NIV) he tells a parable. "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." The disciples were awestruck over the temple. You might say that they were distracted. But Jesus was warning them to pay attention to the signs and prepare for his return.
There is a lot of controversy over Jesus’ words in Luke21. It never ceases to amaze me how people twist and bend these passages and use them to sell books. In these verses Jesus is clearly warning his disciples to pay attention to the signs that accompany the destruction of Jerusalem and his return to earth. They should have confidence that he will keep his word and return to judge the whole earth. But they should also guard their hearts from being weighed down with the things of this world. In Luke 21:34 dissipation refers to the reckless pursuit of pleasure. Drunkenness refers to being controlled by one's appetites, lusts, and desires. The anxieties of life include anything that causes us to take our focus off trusting God, including family, marriage, work, child-rearing, school, sports, money, possessions, and clothing. There are so many temples in this life that compete for our worship these days. God wants his disciples to keep their focus wholly on him.
The inner twelve.
It’s interesting that Jesus finds himself at odds with the crowds, the religious leaders, and some of his own disciples. But what about his closest disciples? The twelve? In Luke 22:1-6 one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, Judas, meets with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard to plot how he might betray Jesus into their hands. Luke 22:5 (NIV) says, "They were delighted and agreed to give him (Judas) money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present." A lot of people believe Jesus betrayed Judas for thirty pieces of silver. My belief is that Judas betrayed Jesus for much more than thirty pieces of silver.
Like the crowds, Judas believed that Jesus would overthrow the Roman government and establish a political kingdom. By forcing a confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders, Judas undoubtedly believed he could force his vision of a political kingdom to come sooner rather than later. The thirty pieces of silver was just a down payment on the material prosperity that he would gain from beingpart of Jesus’ inner circle. Should Jesus overthrow the Roman government,Judas would be showered with gold and silver, power and prestige. When Judas’ scheme backfires and Jesus is crucified, he returns the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, goes out to a nearby field, and hangs himself.
Ironically, as Judas is carrying out his plot, Peter vows to never disown Jesus. In Luke 22:33(NIV) Peter says, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."But in Luke 22:34(NIV) Jesus says, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crowstoday, you will deny three times that you know me." After Jesus is arrested as detailed in Luke 22:54, Peter disowns Jesus three times. First to the high priest, then to a little girl, and then to a third person. Like Judas, Peter was deeply remorseful. He wept bitterly. But unlike Judas, Peter repented and would later renew his relationship with the Lord.
So at the end of the gospel of Luke we have Judas and Peter disowning the Son of God, but we have Jesus submitting to God’s will. In the garden on the Mount of Olives, in Luke 22:42-44(NIV) Jesus commits himself to God’s will. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling on the ground." As the chief priests and officers of the temple court come to arrest him, as the guards and soldiers mock Jesus, then beat him, and ultimately crucify Jesus, Jesus continually entrusts himself to the Father.
Do you think it's an accident that Luke sandwiches Jesus’ prayer on the Mount of Olives between Judas’ betrayaland Peter’s betrayal? The truth is that God is faithful, even when the best of his disciples are unfaithful. God keeps his promise unto death! As Christ’s disciples, Satan is constantly tempting us to become disillusioned and to stop trusting in God’s word. God wants us to follow Christ’s example of keeping the faith andremaining obedient even unto death. Jesus never once wavered or became disillusioned about doing his Father’s will.
The Roman and Jewish governments.
A couple other points of interest. We find Jesus at odds with the crowds, the religious leaders, his disciples, Judas and Peter, but also with the Jewish and Roman governments. At the end of his earthly life we find the government leaders protecting their wordly kingdoms, but Jesus establishing his spiritual kingdom. The Roman and Jewish authorities could not envision any kingdom other than an earthly kingdom. In Luke 22:67the Jewish authorities demand to know if Jesus is the Christ, son of God. In Luke 22:67-70(NIV) Jesus tells them, "'If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.' 'Are you the Son of God?', they asked. 'You are right in saying I am.'"In Luke 23:3(NIV) Pilate wants to know if Jesus is the king of the Jews. And Jesus says, "Yes, it is as you say."
In his death Jesus would establish a spiritual kingdom that transcends anything this world has ever known. In John 18:36(NIV) Jesus talks to Pilate. Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." As Christ’s followers, can we let go of the little kingdoms we are building for ourselves here on earth in order to embrace the deeper realities of Christ’s eternal kingdom?
The forgiveness found in Christ.
I want to end with one last idea. At the end of the gospel of Luke Jesus is tortured, then crucified on a cross. But in the end, the power of sin and death was forever destroyed. The sin that caused the crowds to lay down their cloaks and palm branches, but not their whole lives, can now be forgiven. The sin that caused the religious leaders to mock Jesus and discredit his authority over their lives can now be forgiven. The sin that caused some of Jesus’ disciples to worship the temple and the entrapments of this world can now be forgiven. The sin that caused Judas to betray Jesus andthe sin that caused Peter to deny Jesus, can be forgiven to those who repent. Peter repented and was forgiven. The sin that caused the Roman and Jewish authorities to trade Christ’s spiritual kingdom away for their earthly ambitions can now be forgiven. Finally, our sin that put Jesus on the cross can now be forgiven.
At the very end of Luke’s gospel, things come full circle. I don’t know if you see yourself in the crowd or among the religious leaders. I do know that God’s word was written to invite you into fellowship with the living God. In Luke 19:42(NIV) Jesus says, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace. But now it is hidden from your eyes."
Friends, it isn’t hidden anymore. In Christ, God forgives us. He makes peace with us.