Luke 19 (4)

Pray Psalm 147.15-18.
He sends out His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes;
He casts out His hail like morsels;
Who can stand before His cold?
He sends out His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Sing Psalm 147.15-18.
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
His Word to earth runs to and fro to carry out His will;
He brings the rain, He sends the snow, and none can keep Him still.

Read Luke 19.1-34; meditate on verses 28-34.

Preparation
1. What did Jesus send the disciples to do?

2. What happened as they were doing it?

Meditation
These few verses contain a profound lesson for followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus submitted to the Word of God as He prepared to enter Jerusalem: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! 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” (Zech. 9.9). Just as God had said, Jesus did. He always lived toward the fulfillment of all God’s Word. This is how we should live as well, bringing our lives into line with whatever God has spoken.

Then, to demonstrate the authority of His Word—that it is the very Word of God—He sent two disciples to fetch a donkey’s colt and bring it to Him (vv. 30, 31). He told them where to find it, what might happen as they began to unloose it, and what they should do then. As it turned out, the owners of the colt did ask about why the disciples were taking it—just as Jesus had said—and the disciples responded in the exact words He gave to say in that situation (vv. 32, 33).

So, just as He had said, the colt was there, and someone asked about their taking it. And, just as He had said, the disciples did exactly what He told them to do and spoke the precise words He had given them, just as He had said.

Jesus fulfilled all God’s Word, and while doing so endured great strife and suffering; but now He reigns at the right hand of God and is coming again to bring His Kingdom to eternal glory. As we seek to live as God’s Word commands and instructs, we can expect opposition as well. But if we do and speak just as He has said, we need fear no man, and we may expect to hear His “Well done” when the day of reckoning arrives.

His Word will never fail. We are always on safe ground as we seek to do just as He has said.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Just as He has said” (Lk. 19.32; Matt. 28.6; Mk. 16.7; Lk. 24.6). The entire Word of God is full of “Just as He has said”, starting from the very beginning of time as we know it. And beware, it was the Word of God the enemy first attacked: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast…And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said…?’” (Gen. 3.1)

That, then, is the ultimate battle between good and evil. Do you believe what God has said or not?  If we believe, then Jesus will find faith when He returns; but if we doubt His Word, then He will find none.

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Prov. 30.5, 6).
“The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever” (Ps. 12.6, 7).

When God said He created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then He rested on the seventh—that’s exactly what and how it happened (Gen. 1.1-2.3).
When God gave us the Ten Commandments to keep—that’s exactly what He intends for us to do (Ex. 20.1-17; Deut. 32.46, 47).
When God promised us a way to salvation through grace and forgiveness—He sent us Jesus as foretold (Is. 9.6, 7).
When Jesus said that He would die to cover the penalty for our sins—that is precisely what He did (Jn. 1.1-5; 3.16; Matt. 27.46-54).
When Jesus said that after three days He would rise from the dead to life—that happened, most assuredly, just as He said it would (Lk. 24.1-7).

If we choose, out of hubris, to doubt His Word at any point, we are free to doubt and disobey them all. Where does one stop if the floodgates of faithlessness swing open?

These truths are not easy to understand. Mainly the truth that a completely righteous God would die for the unrighteous, out of His merciful love for the unlovely (Rom. 5.8). After we accept that, the other items we happily agree to because they are part of the package deal—by faith. Because, as we know, “without faith it is impossible to please” God (Heb. 11.6).

All of God’s Words are true. In their entirety, they are just as He said. Like the tied-up colt (Lk. 19.30-34). The Lord had need of that colt, and He also has need of us to believe His every Word.

Jesus asked, Will I find faith when I return? (Lk. 18.8) And the answer is a resounding “Yes!” from those who believe His every word and act on them.

My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed;
I trust the Everliving One, His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.

My heart is leaning on the Word, the written Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior’s name, Salvation through His blood.
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.
(Edmunds, 19^th century)

For reflection
1. Why is it so hard for us to take Jesus at His Word?

2. What can we expect if we work harder at obeying Him in everything?

3. Whom will you encourage today to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in them and to take Him at His Word?

Jesus was in control of the events of the last week of His life, even though those events led to His death. Here He prepared to enter the city riding a colt. Earl Radmacher (1931-2014), NKJV Study Bible Note on Luke 19.28-34

Pray Psalm 147.6-14.
Praise God that He upholds you, provides for you, shepherds you, and protects you by His mighty and unchangeable Word. Call on Him to guide you by His Word in all you do today.

Sing Psalm 147.6-14.
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
The humble God exalts above; the wicked He casts down.
Sing thanks to this great God of love; let songs of praise abound.

He brings refreshing rain to earth and feeds the beasts so dear.
He puts in man’s strength naught of worth, but loves those who God fear.

O praise your God, Jerusalem, O Zion, praise the Lord!
He strengthens those who trust in Him with blessings from His Word.

Around us He has spread His peace; our borders are secure.
His bounty daily shall increase; His grace to us is sure!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.