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PR Nightmares: events that damage the reputation of individual/entity

• 2010 BP offshore drilling rig explosion & oil spill killed 11 workers & massive environmental damage
• 2015-2018 with Chipotle experiencing significant food poisoning outbreaks and the chain having multiple shut-downs, and eventually forced to pay $25 million fine.  
• 2025 CEO of Astronomer tech company was at a concern and a camera displayed him on the big screen cuddling a woman, who was a co-worker AND not his wife! The episode was videoed on cell phones and posted on internet, where it went viral and the affair was exposed along with the company’s reputation taking a hit.
• 2025 OpenAI faced with lawsuits after ChatGPT seemed to validate depression for months of a teen and facilitate the teens exploration and specific actions of suicide.  /
  If this is your struggle: Text 988 or contact CRS warmline in AACO, and know our church is here to remind you that hope is alive and to encourage you not to walk alone.

The Gospels reveal a PR nightmare for the disciples as their leader says and does things they were not expecting. The episode causes the disciples to question their association with Jesus, and eventually ends up becoming the tipping point for Jesus to be betrayed, arrested, and executed.

EXAMINE       (Luke 19:28-48)                         3 realities of Jesus

Jesus Chronicles

• Last week of Jesus’ life: MT (~29%), MK (~38%), LK (~25%), JN (~48%) or ~34% total. IOW the Gospels are essentially Holy Week biographies with expanded introductions.  
• Approaching Jerusalem, which a) is upward in travel, so physically tiring, b) city means “foundationofpeace” / Philly=CityofBrotherlyLove, Pittsburg=SteelCity, Detroit=MotorCity Vegas=SinCity / BUT peace only comes from Jesus’ suffering in Jerusalem.
• Luke 19 begins Holy Week. The most solemn moments of our faith that you cannot study without a sense of humility and awe.  
  
  

Jesus always has a plan.

²⁸ And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Context is Jesus talking about the temple. The Jerusalem Temple was a place of worship built by David/Solomon; destroyed; then rebuilt, and then extended under Herod with a massive rebuild (37-4BC). Massive stones were used – some 45’ L x 11’ H and the entire complex was about 40-acres (ex. SPHS surrounding lot). Overall, Jesus is laser-focused for Jerusalem (cross/salvation/peace/kingdom)

²⁹ When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” ³² So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. ³³ And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴ And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” ³⁵ And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

• Jesus involves disciples in the small details of His greatest work! YET imagine 2-dudes walking to your driveway and saying, “Hey, the Lord needs your truck/jeep. We’ll probably bring it back in a couple days.” NOT HAPPENING CAPTAIN!
• Note: Jesus isn’t stealing. He was familiar with Bethphage/Bethany and likely knew the owner and Jesus was a trusted friend. Even further, the disciples followed the plan – never easy but always rewarding.  
  • Jn 2 when wine runs out… go fill water jars.
• • Mt 8:2 when a storm comes but Jesus in boat… don’t fear, just pray.
• • Mt 14-15 when surrounded by large & hungry crowd with little resources… put your little in God’s hands and watch Him multiply.
• • Mt 17 when taxes are due and Jesus says go fishing and open the fish mouth to find a coin for paying the tax.
  • Jn 11 When Jesus instructed them to roll Lazarus’ tombstone away.
     

Illus: The donkey[1] awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and purpose. He pridefully plodded into town and found a group of people by the well. “I’ll show myself to them,” he thought.
But they didn’t notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind.
“Throw your garments down,” he said crossly. “Don’t you know who I am?”
They just looked at him in disdain. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move along.
“Miserable heathens!” he muttered to himself. “I’ll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me.”
But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market place.
“The palm branches! Where are the palm branches?” he shouted. “Yesterday, you threw palm branches!”
Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother.
“Foolish child,” she said gently. “Don’t you realize that without Jesus, you are just an ordinary donkey?”

*To know peace is to reject pride and follow God’s plan. Disobedience to God’s plans might not receive immediate rebuke, but the way of sinners is like chaff that the wind will drive away and not remain standing (cf. Psalm 1).

To know peace is to reject pride and follow God’s plan. Otherwise, you’ll be like chaff in the wind.

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• Are you asking God to bless your plans rather than seeking His?
• Are you afraid of obeying God for what it might cost you?
  Why are you not afraid of what disobedience will cost you?
• Have you considered how many people are being impacted by your disobedience – for bad, OR for missing out on the good??
• When is it time to stop explaining excuses to God and start surrendering?

Jesus always has a prayer.

³⁶ And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, ³⁸ saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

• Jerusalem population was around 25K and during Passover could swell 6x
• The coronation of a king includes elaborate pageantry & lavish expense.^[2] Usually, Ornate carriages; stately stallions; high ranking officials & dignitaries attended; music would ring w/ choruses from the crowd… In this case the crowd spread personal garments & palm branches to indicate their submission to Jesus as worthy king and faithful provider.  
• Jesus sat on a colt with a donkey, both walking in tandem (Mt 21:7). The unbroken & unridden colt would have been wild, hence its mother accompanying. Further, in this passage there’s no sign of its stubbornness & they appear surrendered & compliant. Ironically, an animal was more obedient to Jesus than religious leaders; & Jesus masters the untamed.
• Overall, Scripture references these acts as fulfillment of prophecy over 500 years before Christ. Zechariah 9:9 “Behold your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
  

³⁹ And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

The Pharisees wanted Jesus to reject being identified as king and divine.

⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Psalmist: “heavens declare glory of God; sky proclaims His handiwork” “sun, moon, shining stars…” trees clap hands… mountains bow down… tide raise hallelujah… thunder roar Amen

⁴¹ And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, ⁴² saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side ⁴⁴ and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Jesus entered the city with crying tears and fervent prayers. This was not a moment of regrettable weakness but evidence of real humanity. Likewise, today, if we’re going to reject Jesus and miss Heaven, it will require you to first callously wipe away the crying tears of Jesus (cf Psalm 126:5 sow in tears, reap shouts of joy).

Jesus entered the city with crying tears and fervent prayers. This was not a moment of regrettable weakness but evidence of real humanity. Likewise, today, if we’re going to reject Jesus and miss Heaven, it will require you to first callously wipe away the crying tears of Jesus.

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The Jews disregarded Jesus’ compassion. And Jesus pronounced judgment. Indeed, the next generation would be sieged under Roman emperor Titus. Josephus writes “the temple was so thoroughly laid even with the ground… that there was left nothing to make those that came [after] believe that it had ever been inhabited.”[3] Then, in AD 135, Hadrian brought a crushing and final end to the nation of Israel, even attempting to eradicate Judaism and permanently erase their very existence from history, changing the name of the region to Syria Palaestina.^[4]

*Today, Jesus is praying for you (Ro 8:34; Heb 7:25; 1Jn 2:1). He’s your mediator, your intercessor and advocate. He is the only means of peace, and your only protector from an eternal siege that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy you (Jn 10:10).

à Prayer is the link between earth and heaven. Today, stretch out your hands to touch Jesus / come kneel at the steps as a meeting place — you can feign sophistication or you can be wholly surrendered to Jesus, but you can’t be both.  

Jesus always purifies temples.

⁴⁵ And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, ⁴⁶ saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” ⁴⁷ And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, ⁴⁸ but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

• Moving from the Jerusalem streets to inside the temple heightens the attention and aggression toward Jesus.
• The religious leaders were busy providing services, but for personal profit. The sacrificial system had become a fraudulent scheme. If travelers brought their animal sacrifice, it was rejected at the, and they were forced to purchase from the temple business. If they planned to purchase at the temple, the exchange currency rates were at higher cost. The entire system had turned the praise of God into profits of man and exploiting people.  – – – Illus: worse than purchasing food at Athletic Stadium or Amusement Park!
• Jesus overturned tables and cast-off dishonest merchants. Jesus proclaimed the temple should be a place of genuine prayer where people encounter God to discover peace, forgiveness, healing, hope, and salvation.
• The religious leaders understood they had two options: Crown Jesus or Crucify Jesus. We’re not left with options to compliment and flatter Jesus in attempt to placate God with religious performance so that we receive earthly comforts and eternal fire insurance. Jesus sees right through our motives.
  • Jesus says: Lukewarm faith is like vomit.  The Triumphal Entry turns everything upside down. Jesus purifies us by inviting us  to exchange
    • Shallow religion for meaningful faith
• • • Isolation for community
• • • Political agendas for kingdom mission
  • Jesus quotes Isa 56:7 “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” The Jews were overlooking unbelievers and sending them away from the temple area. They had little respect for the Gentiles, and this made Jesus indignant. TODAY, we must ask ourselves, what we are doing to invite guests into the house of God? And when we see someone alone, we do what we can so that others feel the welcome and warmth of a church family.

• What are personal coats you need to take off and lay down for Jesus? What are the palm branches that need cut off and placed under Jesus feet?

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*Jesus’ first coming was gentle and servant-oriented. Jesus came for the burdened, the beat down, those who feel like their life is running up a descending escalator, and those who are exhausted and empty. Life isn’t easy, and Jesus came to relieve our burdens, not multiply them. So, while you may have expectations for God/Jesus and are perhaps still sorting out spiritual life, know that Jesus is a faithful friend. He is rich in mercy, tender in care, and overflowing with grace. Jesus is all this and so much more. He promises to continue pursuing you and is patient with you while you consider following Jesus in faith.

But, Jesus’ second coming will be not be so gentle but decisively judicious. You must not put off until tomorrow what God wants started today.

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[1] Adapted from Wayne Rice, Illustrations, Youth Specialties

^[2] Adapted from John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew, vol. 3, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 256.

[3] Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 7.1.3.

^[4] Charles R. Swindoll, Luke, vol. 3, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017), 500.