LUKE 19:29-40 – PRIVILEGED
Privileges! We all have them, but we do not all have the same privileges.
I’ve met many people who own summer homes in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of New York. Specifically, most of them have their summer homes in Caroga Lake.
I own no summer home.
However, I am privileged to preach at the summer chapel in Caroga Lake each summer. None of them will have that privilege.
My friend, Steve, has the privilege of being a police department chaplain. I do not.
However, I have been privileged to be paid for doing Christian ministry of some sort since we were married. Steve has not had that privilege.
Many of my friends are privileged to have skills that allow them to work with their hands. I do not.
However, I am privileged to have skills that allow me to speak in public. Many of my friends do not.
Now there are privileges that most of us share in this country:
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of religion
- Freedom to vote
- Freedom to make our own decisions
- Prosperity that allows us to have sufficient food, clothing and housing.
Today we are celebrating Palm Sunday. This is the day when Jesus officially presented Himself to Israel as her Messiah. This was a fulfillment of Scripture.
Zechariah 9:9 – Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Without going into detail, the date of this arrival was predicted perfectly by the Prophet Daniel. Daniel 9:24-26
Although Jesus, had been in Jerusalem before, this is the first time He presented Himself as King when He arrived.
There were many who were privileged to participate in this Palm Sunday celebration, and it excites me to tell you that we have some of the same privileges as Christians.
PRIVILEGED TO SERVE – Vss. 28-32
Many of us when we are thanked for our military service think of it as privilege to have served our country.
How much more should we consider it at a privilege to serve our Lord and Savior! Paul did! 1Timothy 1:12-15
Remember, we serve the Lord Jesus when we serve others.
Galatians 6:9-10
Mark 9:41 – Cup of Cold Water
PRIVILEGED TO SHARE – Vss. 33-34
- The owners of the colt shared him. 19:33-34
- A boy shared his lunch – John 6:9-11
- Ladies supported Jesus’s ministry – Luke 8:1-3
- Martha shared Jesus into her home. Luke 10:38
- The owners of the upper room shared it with Jesus for the last supper. Luke 22:7-13
- Joseph of Arimathea shared an empty tomb.
Every time you give something to the Lord Jesus, you are privileged to share.
- Tithes and missions offerings
- Time
- Talents/skills
- Showing hospitality to other saints 1 Peter 4:9
PRIVILEGED TO SUBMIT – Vss. 35-36
This act was a symbolic sign of submission to Jesus as Messiah. Not all would have been sincere. They were expecting a political release and the Kingdom to be established on Earth. That will happen when Jesus returns.
We have shared with you that we are to be submissive to Jesus. Luke 9:23
Our attitude should always be “Lord Jesus, I’ll go where you want me to go. I’ll do what you want me to do. I’ll be what you want me to be.”
Why is it a privilege and not drudgery to submit to Jesus? Because of what He has done for us!
Good Friday Service – We will remember!
1 Peter 2:22-25
Never ask a Christian “What do you want to do when you retire?”
Instead, ask, “What does God want you to do when you retire. Some of you have more time now to consider God’s will for your life as you have more time.
Spend the rest of your days in joyful, submissive obedience and watch what God does!
PRIVILEGED TO SHOW – Vs.35
Even the donkey got in the act! He was privileged to show Jesus to the crowd that Jesus was their expected Messiah. Only this colt and his mother had this privilege.
If you know Jesus, you have the privilege of showing Him to others who need. You show this by your actions and your words.
Psalm 107:1-2
One of the greatest privileges Dottie and I have had was to lead our children to Christ and I had the privilege of baptizing each one.
PRIVILEGED TO SHOUT (Or to Praise) – Vss. 37-38
By this time, the crowd was joined by those who were at the Passover feast at Jerusalem, and they joined the disciples in the praise. John 12:12-13
Vs. 37 – Notice that many praised God for the miracles they had seen, not the least of which would have been the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead.
We have many miracles to praise God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for.
The greatest of all is our salvation.
My Father is omnipotent, and that you can´t deny;
A God of might and miracles, ´tis written in the sky.
It took a miracle to put the stars in place;
It took a miracle to hang the world in space.
But when he saved my soul,
Cleansed and made me whole,
It took a miracle of love and grace.
“It Took a Miracle” by John W. Peterson
It is our privilege to sing God’s praises, because we have witnessed at least one miracle! Hebrews 13:14-15
PRIVILEGED TO SUFFER (Criticism) – Vss. 39-40
Not all in the crowd were excited. If you a true follower of Jesus, expect to be criticized!
Vs. 39 – The crowd was too big and too excited to be subdued by some would-be complainers.
Vs. 40 – The Messiah was being offered to His People. It was a joyful day of fulfilled prophecy. If the people didn’t rejoice the rocks would have cried out.
1 Peter 4:12-13 – It is our privilege to suffer for Jesus.
