The Servant King
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. (Luke 19:41-42)
The picture of the triumphal entry is partially re-enacted on Palm Sunday year after year – with the waving of palms and singing ‘Hosanna!’ Picture the junior donkey carrying the King Jesus and receiving praise and honour as he entered the capital city – easy to imagine if you have been in church, even for a few years. Evangelist Luke recorded a unique verse of Jesus’ lamentation as he approached Jerusalem and saw the city: ‘if you… had only known… what would bring you peace’ was his cry. One would expect a capital city to be home to the best school and university, the best student and professor, the best archives and library, yet the Lord was moved to tears and wept over the city’s perilous ignorance.
In his commentary, Adam Clarke suggests it is very likely that our Lord here alludes to the meaning of the word Jerusalem, from yereh (he shall see), and shalom (peace or prosperity). Now, because the inhabitants of it had not seen this peace and salvation, because they had refused to open their eyes, and behold this glorious light of heaven which shone among them. What would bring her peace and salvation? Only the obedience and righteousness, the blood, sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 50, the Messiah is portrayed as mighty to save, yet the Jews fell into trouble – they were taken out into humiliating captivity like enslaved children; they were uprooted from their homeland and banished like a divorced wife, because of their sins and transgressions (vv.1-2), and for their neglect and contempt of the Messiah. Indeed this same fate befell Jerusalem later when the Romans burnt it down to ashes. Note the imitable traits of the coming King who is as concerned about you as he was about that city:
The Student King: He has been taught and he knows the word that sustains the weary. He listens with his ear as one being taught, and is obedient and determined to do the will of the Sovereign Lord – even setting his face to go to Jerusalem where he would meet his death!
The Servant King: In the lowliest humility, the Lord served his Father by serving the lost sinners. He suffered beatings on his cheeks and lashes on his back and shame on the cross for you and me – to save a perishing world, serving His Master! We must give ourselves to learning as students and to ministry as servants, as our Lord Jesus Christ has given us example.
The Saviour King: He is mighty to save, so fit and qualified; the one who dried up the sea and parted rivers, and the one who defeated death by rising again – no other can save but Him. And he calls us to follow and trust in Him. Hallelujah! He is the Saviour King.
God bless you as you all.