The Missed Messiah
On the day Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds were ready.
They shouted, “Blessed is the King!”
They laid their cloaks before Him.
They believed their moment had finally come.
But just days later, everything changed.
In this message from the Gospel of Luke 19:28–44, we look at how it’s possible to be close to Jesus, to even praise Him, and still not truly recognize Him.
Palm Sunday is one of the most sobering moments in Scripture. The day the Messiah arrived… and was not recognized.
The question is: could we be doing the same thing today?
They shouted, “Blessed is the King!”
They laid their cloaks before Him.
They believed their moment had finally come.
But just days later, everything changed.
In this message from the Gospel of Luke 19:28–44, we look at how it’s possible to be close to Jesus, to even praise Him, and still not truly recognize Him.
Palm Sunday is one of the most sobering moments in Scripture. The day the Messiah arrived… and was not recognized.
The question is: could we be doing the same thing today?
Luke 19:28-44
28 When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples 30 and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it? ’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt? ”
34 “The Lord needs it,” they said. 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it. 36 As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. 37 Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice 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 heaven!
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, 42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”
28 When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples 30 and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it? ’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt? ”
34 “The Lord needs it,” they said. 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it. 36 As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. 37 Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice 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 heaven!
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, 42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”
GOING DEEPER
Parallel, Related and Referenced Passages
Parallel Accounts: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-19
INTRODUCTION
1) PREPERATION PROPELS PROPHECY
2) PROPHECY THAT PRODUCES PRAISE
3) PRAISE THAT PROMPTS PROTEST
4) PEACE THAT PLUMMETS TO PAIN
Parallel, Related and Referenced Passages
Parallel Accounts: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-19
INTRODUCTION
- Luke 19:28-44
- Psalm 118:24
- Luke 9:51
- Ezekial 34
1) PREPERATION PROPELS PROPHECY
- Numbers 19:2
- Deuteronomy 21:3
- 1 Samuel 6:7
- Genesis 49:8-12
- 2 Samuel 7
- Revelation 5:5
- John 15:1-5
- Zechariah 9:9
2) PROPHECY THAT PRODUCES PRAISE
- Psalm 118:25-26
- Ephesians 6:12
- Genesis 3:1-7
3) PRAISE THAT PROMPTS PROTEST
- Psalm 114:4
- Isaiah 55:12
- Psalm 148
- Habakkuk 2:11
- Joshua 24:26-27
4) PEACE THAT PLUMMETS TO PAIN
- Luke 13:34
- Daniel 9:20-27
- Genesis 4:1-10
- Hebrews 12:24
CONSIDER
1. Preparation Propels Prophecy
Do I trust that God is at work—even when I don’t fully understand what He is doing?
Jesus was fulfilling a plan set in motion long before anyone in that moment could see it.
2. Prophecy Produces Praise
Is my worship of Jesus based on who He truly is—or who I expect Him to be?
The crowd praised Jesus—but they misunderstood Him.
3. Praise Prompts Protest
Is there any part of my heart that resists Jesus’ authority—even while I outwardly honor Him?
The Pharisees rejected what was right in front of them.
4. Peace Plummets to Pain
Am I recognizing Jesus for who He truly is today—or am I at risk of missing Him?
Jesus wept because they did not recognize “the time of their visitation.”
1. Preparation Propels Prophecy
Do I trust that God is at work—even when I don’t fully understand what He is doing?
Jesus was fulfilling a plan set in motion long before anyone in that moment could see it.
- Where might I be tempted to doubt God’s purposes because I can’t see the full picture?
- Am I willing to follow like the disciples—simply doing what He says?
2. Prophecy Produces Praise
Is my worship of Jesus based on who He truly is—or who I expect Him to be?
The crowd praised Jesus—but they misunderstood Him.
- Do I follow Jesus as King on His terms, or mine?
- What happens to my worship when He doesn’t meet my expectations?
3. Praise Prompts Protest
Is there any part of my heart that resists Jesus’ authority—even while I outwardly honor Him?
The Pharisees rejected what was right in front of them.
- Are there areas where I subtly push back against His rule?
- Do I want a Savior… but not a King?
4. Peace Plummets to Pain
Am I recognizing Jesus for who He truly is today—or am I at risk of missing Him?
Jesus wept because they did not recognize “the time of their visitation.”
- Am I responding to Him now, or assuming there will always be more time?
- Have I truly received the peace He offers—or am I still looking elsewhere?
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