The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.”
Luke 19:11 NLT
One thing I’ve not really considered as much as I should when reading the Gospels is the hunger the Jewish people had for a king to reestablish Israel’s power and take the throne away from Herod.
After Jesus fed the 5000, they wanted to start an uprising and make Jesus’ king.
When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.”
John 6:14-15 NLT
Jesus was now entering Jerusalem for the final time. He had recently raised Lazarus from the dead. This only heightened the belief among the Jewish commoners, or at least the hope, that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah, their king.
What better time to establish Himself on His rightful throne than during the Passover celebration.
Think how the celebration begins on Palm Sunday. They people roll out the “red carpet,” or at least the green carpet of palm branches, to welcome their king into His city to take His rightful place in David’s throne, crushing Roman power with a divine display similar to the stories they had grown up listening to about Elijah defeating the prophets of Baal.
How much had the Twelve bought into this hype? Jesus told them three times, in specific detail, that He was going to Jerusalem to be arrested, beaten, flogged, and crucified. He wasn’t going to call down fire from heaven and assume His throne.
I wonder. Was Jesus’ parable in Luke 19 for the crowds, or was it more of a reminder to the Twelve?
As the anticipation of the crowds grew, Jesus might have been worried that the Twelve would get swept up in the excitement and forget their mission.
They were to remember to be faithful to Him and what He had entrusted to them.
‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’”
Luke 19:17 NLT
Even though Jesus was king, He had not yet assumed His throne. The Twelve were being entrusted with the ministry, the movement, while He went away. They would not know when He’d return to take His throne. All they were to focus on was to be faithful with what had been entrusted to them.
Faithfulness is rewarded. Don’t get swept up in the hype. Don’t overlook what has been put right in front of you. Be faithful in the little things.
This blogpost originally appeared at: King Jesus – The Cross before the Throne – Sonlife and is based upon Sonlife’s study, Knowing Him / A 50 Day Study in the Life of Christ / Day 43