Luke 19:11-38
Parable of the Ten Minas
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as a King
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 23:13-34
The Crucifixion of Jesus
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” [17]
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”’
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Jesus had taught many...And many had learned much from His teachings...
In the third year of Jesus' ministry He comes into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and is treated like a King...But before He makes His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He gives us the Parable of the Ten Minas...In the Parable the servants must recognize that we are responsible and accountable for things in the future...We must keep working and doing the right things while the King is gone, because He will return...In the Parable, some servants really believe in their King, while others do not...In the Parable there are three servants...Two servants who believe in Him and that He will return, and one who does not believe in Him...The ones who do not believe in Him, will do nothing while He is gone...Those who believe that He is the King of Kings will work to advance the work He has started and laid down...The first two servants labor and return the King solid returns on the King's investment...The third servant is of crucial importance in the Parable...The third servant although seems to believe in His King, but does nothing, while He is gone...He does not think the King is worthy working for and toiling over, since He is gone...This servant returns nothing for the King...Some believers are associated with the King in name only...Their belief is not deep and and not mature...Their faith is only superficial, not believing it should be grown and worked at each day...Some will not believe at all...Some do not even want to be ruled, by the Greatest of Kings...And basically Jesus says that God will judge those non-believers, in His Parable...
So as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for the Passover, the people are yelling and the crowd is so happy seeing Him...The people and His followers had seen Him do so many miracles...St. Luke described it this way: After Jesus had told this Parable of the Ten Minas, He went on ahead, going on up to Jerusalem...As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden...Untie it and bring it here...If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The LORD needs it.’”...Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them...As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”...They replied, “The LORD needs it.”...They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it...As He went along, people spread their cloaks on the road...When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!”...“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”...The people were calling Jesus a King...
After Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, in just a short time those who were calling Him the King who came in the name of the LORD are now ready to crucify Him...The friendly crowd who was just earlier yelling blessed is the King, is now an angry rioting crowd yelling "crucify Him, crucify Him"...The crowds affection and loyalty for Jesus was quickly gone...Now the crowd was ready to hang their King from a cross...From King to criminal in the shortest of time...
As we read about Jesus last few days, we see mankind is changing and fickle...Our thoughts, beliefs, and faith sometimes are fickle also...And in the middle of all of this Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”...He forgave us for torturing Him...He forgave us for our changing minds...He forgave us for killing Him...He sees the brokenness in us, and shows us that forgiveness is a part of love...Can we learn from this type of forgiveness?...