Fellowship Group Notes – 13/14 April 2011 
Luke – 19:28-48: Jerusalem Entry

Jesus’ whole life and ministry on this earth has been building up to this final week. Up until now Jesus has not welcomed open displays of adoration for himself, knowing that his enemies might try to seize him and put him to death before his ordained time. But now the time is right, it is the start of the Jewish Passover feast when many thousands made the journey to Jerusalem to celebrate this festival, and it is now that Jesus sets into motion the chain of events that will lead to his death and subsequent resurrection, as he becomes that once and for all Passover Lamb who will secure the salvation of all who repent and believe in him.  

Preparation [19v28-34]
- Jesus instructs his disciples to go on ahead where they will find a colt (the foal of a donkey) tied there. When they reach the village the disciples find things exactly as Jesus had said. What does this reveal to us about Jesus and his mission?
	
- Notice that, once the owners have been told who the colt it is for, they don’t argue “Who is the Lord??” but let it go freely. Why do you think that might be? 
- The owners are happy to have their possessions used for the Lord’s work. How about us? Do we argue when the Lord makes a demand on something that belongs to us? Having said to Jesus “I give you my life, everything I have” do we then hold back when he makes a specific request on our lives? In what areas of our lives, have we or might we resist Jesus’ demands?
- What is the significance of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey? (see Zechariah 9v9, and also 1 Kings 1v32-40). Why a colt that no one else had previously ridden? (see Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7 and how these animals were set apart for specific use)

- Notice how this passage of Jesus riding on a donkey, in hope of peace, compares with his second coming on a white war-horse (Revelation 19:11-16) 

Adoration [19v35-40]
-  What do the disciples and others do in order to show their adoration of Jesus? In doing this what are they acknowledging about who Jesus is? (see 2 Kings 9v13 and note the similarity in Jehu’s coronation)

- But the crowd’s cheers soon turn into jeers by Friday (Luke 23v23) as they call for Jesus to be crucified, why was this?  What had they expected Jesus to do? Notice here the difference between true discipleship and the crowd ... who follow for a while but when Jesus doesn’t meet their expectations fall away. When difficulties come along that we weren’t expecting or our prayers remain unanswered what is our reaction? 

- We also see the reaction of the Pharisees ... what is it? How does Jesus respond to them? And what do you think Jesus means by “even the stones will cry out”? 

- Notice that Jesus doesn’t try to force the Pharisees to make a positive response to who he is, he simply lays out for them the responsibility that they have in choosing to reject or adore Him as King. Is this how we are to witness to a world who largely rejects Christ as King? 

Condemnation [19v41-44]
- What causes Jesus to weep over the people in Jerusalem? Because of their blindness or because of their fate? [Note: Jesus’ detailed prophecy regarding the siege and fall of Jerusalem comes true in AD70, when outraged by the practices allowed by the Romans, the Jews rebel against the occupying forces and are utterly defeated] 

- Notice how suffering and pain against humanity doesn’t bring Jesus any joy ... what does this show us about Christ and how does this help us to respond to people when they say that God is uncaring and unloving?

Prayer Points
- The King James Bible Public Reading at the Forum and Exhibition at St. Peter Mancroft (10-17 April)

- Easter services including those being baptised as part on the Easter morning service (24 April)

gmr