Worship 10 am & 6 pm
Belgrade United Reformed Church
17333 Frontage Road
Belgrade, MT 59714
The Weeping King (Luke 19:28-44)
As Christ approaches Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, he embodies both fulfillment of prophecy and a radical redefinition of kingship. Rather than entering as a triumphant earthly ruler, he rides a colt that symbolizes humility and peace, which is in direct contrast to common expectations of a messianic conqueror. This act not only highlights Jesus’ divine foreknowledge and connection to the promises of Genesis and Zechariah, but also deeply echoes Psalm 118 and Psalm 148 as the crowds praise him, recalling God’s pattern of deliverance even as the city's fate of judgment is delayed. The Mount of Olives itself amplifies these themes, standing as a key prophetic site where Zechariah envisioned both judgment and deliverance, much like the Red Sea parted in Israel’s history.
The reactions of the Pharisees further reveal the heart of the moment: their insistence that Jesus rebuke the crowds exposes their rejection of him as Messiah. Jesus responds that if the people were silent, even the stones would cry out, referencing John the Baptist’s warning that true children of Abraham are not defined by lineage or covenant status alone, but by embracing Christ in faith. Amid outward jubilation, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, expressing deep compassion for its spiritual blindness and the peace it fails to receive. This narrative calls for personal reflection—urging each hearer to recognize Christ’s unique mission and kingdom, which are established not by power, but by humility, sacrificial love, and a cross-shaped posture before God.
Motivated by Rewards? (LD 24; 2 Timothy 4:6-8)
The sermon explores the tension between grace and obedience in the Christian life, warning against two common errors: complacency due to grace and the other extreme where we engage in legalism to ensure obedience. It emphasizes that true union with Christ transforms believers, leading them to joyful obedience out of gratitude, not fear. Using Paul's example in 2 Timothy 4, the sermon highlights that perseverance in faith is a result of God's grace, not human merit. Although Scripture speaks of rewards, these are not earned but are gifts from Christ, recognizing His work in and through His people. Christ is crowing his works that he works in us. Ultimately, believers are called to rest in Christ's finished work while pursuing faithful obedience out of gratitude, motivated by grace and empowered by the Spirit.

