Advent Readings: Luke 19

Luke 19

We come to the chapter when Jesus ascends to the capital of the world as it was. On the way up to Jerusalem He meets with Zacchaeus, bringing him to peace with God and the others – one of the most beautiful depictions of the Cross-shaped theology. To give a deeper meaning to the chief tax collector’s restoration, Christ teaches the hearers the parable of ten minas (Lk. 19:11-27).

After these introductory remarks, Luke leads us to Bethany to observe Jesus mounting the dedicated donkey (Arthur Just in his commentary points out that the donkey was set apart for the holy purpose, p. 744). Throughout the story Luke uses sacrificial terminology – the phrase “drawing near” appears three times, v. 29, 37, and 41.  On one hand, Jesus really got closer and closer to Jerusalem. Yet, the other layer of the text shouldn’t escape our attention, on the meaning of “drawing near” see Luke 18.

What I really want to pint out is a recirculation of the phrase “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk. 19:38). This is not the first time this phrase shows up on the pages of Luke’s Gospel. He prepares us, or he prepares our attention back at the very end of chapter 13, when Jesus laments over the Jerusalem (Lk. 13:35). He leaves the capital and warns them – they won’t see the Messiah, unlit they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” quoting Ps. 118:26.

Now they see Him again, now they say it with joy, enthusiasm, and reverence. But this will not be long. In just a few days they will cry “crucify, crucify Him” (Lk. 23:21). As the Scripture says, every testimony should be confirmed by two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15). That’s what we see here – the second witness that Jesus brings against the pride of those who considered themselves to be the center of the universe. Then Jesus came the third time, as His church (see the connection between Jesus and the church in the fact that Saul persecutes the church, yet Jesus charges him with the persecution of the Messiah, Acts 9:4). After rejection of these three witnesses, Jesus comes as the true and just King, spreading the glory of Jerusalem over the whole world, to every place where “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” is confessed and proclaimed during holy Eucharist.