Luk 141 19v40 Christ Shall Be Worshipped

 

Sermon #141                                                 Luke Sermons

 

     Title:          Christ Shall Be Worshipped

     Text:          Luke 19:40

     Subject:     The Triumphal Entry

     Date:         Sunday Evening — December 19, 2004

     Tape #       Y-53b

     Readings:   Bob Pruitt and Rex Bartley

     Introduction:

 

Luke 19:28-40

 

28.           And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

 

 

29.           And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

 

30.           Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

 

31.           And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

 

32.           And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

 

33.           And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

 

34.           And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

 

35.           And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

 

36.           And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

 

37.           And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

 

38.           Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

 

39.           And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

 

40.           And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 

Our Savior’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem was prophesied by both Isaiah and Zechariah.

 

(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.

 

 (Isaiah 62:11)  Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

 

Grace Triumphant

 

Clearly this passage speaks of both our Savior’s great humility and condescension and of his glorious triumphs and conquests as our Savior. His humiliation unto death is his highest glory. And his triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a display of the great conquests of his grace in the hearts of chosen sinners. All we who believe on the Lord Jesus, like the wild ass’s colt, have been found, fetched and conquered by the Son of God.

 

Deity Displayed

 

We see our Savior’s deity manifestly displayed throughout this story. Some of these displays are obvious to all. Others are just as obvious, but commonly overlooked. Not only did our Savior show his omniscience and display his power over and rightful ownership of all things. He shows his glorious majesty and supremacy in everything recorded here.

·       At the very time the Scribes and Pharisees and religious rulers in Jerusalem were plotting to kill him, his praise was heard above the noise of thousands in the crowded streets, praise in exactly the words written in the prophets.

·       The fact that the children of those who were plotting to crucify him, here sang the praises of our Redeemer (Matt. 21:15) tells us that he who inspired their praise is God who rules the thoughts of men.

·       Though his disciples clearly did not understand the things they saw and spoke until after the resurrection, they here proclaim that the lowly Nazarene, that poor man, insignificant in the opinion of all, is the Messiah, the Son of God, whose is just and having salvation!

·       And the answer he gave to the Pharisees who tried to get him to silence the praises of his people, stands out in my mind as a tremendous display and declaration of his glorious Person as the God-man, our Savior.

 

(Luke 19:40)  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you…” — as if to say, You can be certain of this. — “that, if these should hold their peace,” if they did not sing my praise and glorify God because of me, “the stones would immediately cry out.” These very rocks that I created would erupt with my praise.

 

Proposition: The obvious meaning of those words is this.— The Lord Jesus Christ must and shall be worshipped and praised as our Savior and King.

 

Blessed be his name, there is a day coming when all creatures and all creation shall praise and worship him (Rev. 4 and 5). But I want you to know and be assured that he must and shall be worshipped and praised in this world by some.

 

We preach the gospel to all men. We send out the message of God’s free grace and salvation in Christ, literally, around the world. You send me up and down the length and breadth of this country week after week proclaiming to needy souls who Christ is, what he has done, and how he saves sinners. We help to send others to proclaim free grace to lost sinners. As we do, some believe and some believe not. But, blessed be God our Savior, some must and shall believe. That is the way it is, the way it has been, and the way it shall be, as long as time shall stand. Let me show you.

 

Example

 

Turn with me to Acts 28:24. Here is an example of what I am saying. Paul is at Rome. There the Jews desired to hear him. After he was finished persuading them from the Scriptures, we read…

 

(Acts 28:24)  And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

 

The preacher here is the apostle Paul. The message preached was the gospel of Christ. He expounded the Scriptures, testified of his own experience of the power of God, and persuaded his hearers to trust Christ. Yet, we read that “some believed...and some believed not.” Why did Luke write that down? What does the Holy Spirit intend for us to learn from this fact?

 

Without question, the intention of the Holy Spirit is to teach us that the salvation of sinners is not determined by the ability of the preacher. I do not mean to suggest that a person can be saved apart from the preaching of the gospel (Rom. 10:17; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23-25). And I do not suggest that it does not matter who you hear (1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 10).

 

If you feed upon the poison of a false religion, you will perish under the wrath of God. But the Holy Spirit does mean for us to understand that saving faith is in no way dependent upon or determined by the gifts, abilities, education, or spirituality of the man who preaches the gospel. No one excels Paul in these areas. Yet, some who heard him “believed not.” He preached pure gospel truth. He preached the truth in love. His heart was in his message. He wanted those who heard him to know Christ. Yet, “some believed not.”

 

Why?

 

Why did some believe while others believed not? All heard the same preacher preach the same sermon under the same circumstances. Only one explanation can be given for the faith of those who believed. They believed because God chose them in eternity, Christ redeemed them at Calvary, and now the Holy Spirit called them and gave them faith in Christ by his irresistible power and grace (John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:16-18). Their salvation was entirely God’s fault and the result of God’s work.

 

Why did some not believe? Their unbelief was their own fault and the result of their own work. They did not believe because they would not believe (John 5:40). They would not believe because they had no need of Christ (Luke 9:11). All who are saved are saved as a result of what God does. All who are lost are lost as a result of what they do.

 

Some Must Believe

 

Yet, some must believe the gospel. Some must and shall worship and praise Christ as Savior and Lord. That is the meaning of our Lord’s words in Luke 19:40.

 

(Luke 19:40)  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 

Christ must have praise somewhere; if not at one place and by one group, then assuredly somewhere else and by another group. Christ must have praise. Why? Let me give you just two reasons.

 

His Due

 

1st Some shall worship and praise the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and King because it is his due.

 

It is due to His person. He is Son of God, and Son of man; the possessor of all things. He is the embodiment of every perfection, divine and human. Praise is his due, his right, his rightful claim. It is due to him…

·       As the Word made flesh.

·       As Messiah, the Christ, our King.

·       As the Savior of the World.

·       As the Revealer of the Father and the Father’s will.

·       As the Executor of the Father’s purpose.

·       As the Object of the Father’s love.

·       As the Doer of that mighty work by which and in which the Father is glorified, and peace is made, and mercy, grace and love are brought to sinners in righteousness.

In a word, it is his due, because he is the Lamb of God and he is Salvation (Rev. 5:6-14).

 

(Revelation 5:6-14)  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. (8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (11) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; (12) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (13) And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (14) And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

 

Praise is his due; and he will have his due.

 

The Father’s Purpose

 

2nd The Lord Jesus Christ must and shall be worshipped and praised by some as Savior and King, because it is the Father’s purpose (Rom. 8:28-31).

 

(Romans 8:28-31)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

But there are some, like the Pharisees in Luke 19, who despise his praise, who will not trust and worship him as Savior and King, and who do everything in their power to keep others from worshipping him.

 

All self-righteousness, all self-justifying, self-exulting, religion is opposed to the praise of Christ. The professors of it hate his praise. They cannot bear to hear it from others, much less to give it themselves. The voice of Christ’s praise stirs their enmity. They love to talk about praising him, but despise his praise. They cannot stand to hear him exalted as…

·       All Wisdom

·       All Righteousness

·       All Sanctification

·       All Redemption

·       All Salvation

·       The End of The Law

 

Others may not be so vocal as these Pharisees. They are simply silent. You are engrossed with other things. You are indifferent to Christ. You do not bother yourself about grace, salvation, righteousness, and eternal life. You stick your fingers in your ears and refuse to hear.

 

The Effect

 

What is the effect of man’s unbelief, rebellion and hatred toward our Savior? Turn to Romans 3:3-4, and see.

 

(Romans 3:3-4)  For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (4) God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

 

·       It will not thwart God’s purpose.

·       It will not rob Christ of his satisfaction.

·       It will not hinder the work of God the Holy Spirit.

·       It will not diminish the number of the saved.

·       It will cause any sorrow among the saints in heaven.

·       It will not diminish Christ’s praise and glory.

 

God’s purpose concerning his darling Son, and the praise due to him, shall be carried out to the uttermost, both in time and eternity, both in earth and heaven. It is even now unfolding itself. Christ is glorified even here. There are some who praise him, in every kingdom and out of every kindred, some here tonight praising him! And every new born soul gathered in adds to the song of praise. Soon all the earth shall yet praise him. Creation’s universal song of praise shall begin when he returns in his glory to make all things new. All heaven praises, and shall praise him. Every angel glorifies him. The hosts of heaven ascribe blessing to the Lamb. All the universe shall yet praise him. Every thing that has breath and being shall praise him. Sun, moon, and stars shall praise him, throughout the endless ages of eternity!

 

·       Are you praising him?

·       Will you praise him now?

·       This wild ass’s colt must and shall forever praise him!

 

(Psalms 34:1-4)  I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. (3) O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (4) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

 

(Psalms 34:6-11)  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (7) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (8) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (9) O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. (10) The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (11) Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

 

(Psalms 34:17)  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

 

(Psalms 116:1-7)  I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. (2) Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. (3) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. (4) Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. (5) Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. (6) The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. (7) Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

 

(Psalms 116:11-19)  I said in my haste, All men are liars. (12) What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. (14) I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. (15) Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (16) O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. (17) I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. (18) I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, (19) In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

 

Amen.