Luke 19 begins with the story of Zacchaeus, a short tax collector who had climbed a tree in hope of seeing Jesus as He passed through town. Not only did he see Jesus, but Jesus called out to him and told Zacchaeus that He wanted to spend time with him in his home. All the people began to grumble about Jesus keeping company with a sinner. Zacchaeus, recognizing the magnitude of the moment with Jesus, repented and promised to make right his wrongs. Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:9-10) While He had the crowd’s attention, Jesus told a parable of a man of noble birth and ten of his servants whom he gave each ten minas to invest. The man was appointed king and returned home to see what the servants had done with the money he had given. The first servant had doubled what he had been given and the king celebrated him and gave him charge over ten cities because he had been trustworthy with what he had been given. The second servant had gained five minas in addition to the ten given. He too was recognized for his sound investing, and was given charge over five cities. The last servant mentioned in the parable is one who buried the ten mina in a piece of cloth. Upon the king’s return he retrieved it and took it to him. He told the king that he was afraid of him and that he “takes out what he did not put in and reaps what he did not sow.” The king berated him and asked him why he did not at least put the money on deposit to earn interest. He then took the mina from the fearful servant and gave it to the one who had doubled his money. After that, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem. Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead to collect a colt that had never been ridden to bring to Him. The two found a colt just as Jesus had told them. They placed their cloaks on the colt and Jesus rode on the colt through Jerusalem. The whole crowd of disciples who had gathered began praising God for all that they had seen. There were Pharisees in the crowd that told Jesus to rebuke His disciples. “I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (verse 40) As Jesus neared Jerusalem He wept over the city for all that would come. After the procession, Jesus entered the temple courts and cleared out those who were selling, and He said to them, “My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.” (verse 46) Each day He continued teaching at the temple. The chief priests, teachers of the law and the leaders were looking for a way to kill Him, but were unable to find a way because everyone listened intently to all that Jesus had to say.
The Lord always sees,
those who feel unseen;
He knows them by name,
in love, intervenes.
Those willing to hear,
are forever changed;
His love overwhelms,
it can’t be contained.
By grace, He trusts us,
to choose do His will;
He grants us wisdom,
to follow, fulfill.
When the time came near,
He entered the town;
celebrated King,
by those who were found.
Then to the temple,
He cleared what was wrong;
and kept on teaching,
all those who belonged.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to save us and to show us how we ought to live. Forgive us for every word, thought, and deed that does not align with Your will. Teach us to walk in Your way and love as You love. Lead us to make Your love tangible to those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for who You are and how You love, and seek You to lead us to do likewise. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” – Matthew 21:9