THE PERSON AND LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Lesson Eight

THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Scripture reading: Luke 19:29-20:44

Burden to Impart:

Having finished His ministry in Galilee, the Lord Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, to finish the most important part of His ministry; to suffer and die upon the cross for the sins of the whole world and to be raised from the dead so that He could be our Savior and give us His life.

Memory Verse: From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day" (Matthew 12:21).

Facts to Teach:

1. After ministering for 3 1/2 years the time came for the Lord Jesus to make His last journey to Jerusalem to keep the Passover feast, and to be the Passover Lamb. On the way, the Lord told His disciples at least three times that He was going up to Jerusalem to suffer, to die, and to be raised from the dead (Matt. 16:21). This was not an accident but something planned by God.

2. When Jesus began to enter Jerusalem He rode on a donkey's colt. This shows His humility. Any earthly king would exalt himself and make a big show with white horses, chariots, trumpets, etc. Even though the Lord Jesus did not do this, the multitude still recognized Him as the Son of David (Matt. 21:9), the King, with rejoicing, praising God. They cut down palm branches to lay on the road and strewed their garments on the highway (Matt. 21:8) to show Him honor.

3. The Lord went to the temple and exhibited His authority as the King and Son of God by cleansing the temple, throwing out the money changers, overturning their tables, and chasing out the animals they were selling for profit. He was righteously angry and jealous for God's house. He told them,"... My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers" (Matt. 21:13).

4. He was tested by the religious leaders (the Pharisees and Sadducees), lawyers, and political zealots (the Herodians). They asked Him many crafty questions hoping that they could find something from His answer as ground to accuse Him, but they could find nothing. After He perfectly answered every question and passed every one of their tests, He asked them one question, "Whose Son is He [the Christ]?" (Matt. 22:42). They could not answer His question, for they did not know the Scriptures, nor did they know that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. After this they dared not ask Him any more questions. In their evil hearts of jealousy and envy they secretly plotted how to do away with Jesus and have Him killed.