Luke 19:38

“And saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

Context:This verse is part of the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which is described in Luke 19:28-40. Jesus, knowing that His time of crucifixion was drawing near, approached Jerusalem. He sent two of His disciples ahead, instructing them to bring a colt from a nearby village. The disciples did as Jesus commanded, and Jesus sat on the colt, making His way toward Jerusalem.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, a great multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice. They recognized Jesus as their long‑awaited King, the Messiah, and they greeted Him with enthusiasm and adoration. In their excitement, they shouted the words found in Luke 19:38: “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” This declaration of praise echoes the words from Psalm 118:26, which says, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” By using this phrase, the people were affirming Jesus’ messianic identity and acknowledging Him as the long‑awaited Savior.

They acknowledged that Jesus came in the name of the Lord, representing God’s authority and purpose. The second part of the verse, “peace in heaven, and glory in the highest,” emphasizes the significance of Jesus’ arrival. The people recognized that Jesus’ coming brought peace between heaven and earth. It signified the fulfilment of God’s plan to bring salvation to humanity through His Son. The proclamation of “glory in the highest” acknowledges the exalted nature of Jesus, who deserves all glory and honour.

This verse not only reveals the people’s recognition of Jesus as the King and Messiah, but it also foreshadows the events that would unfold during Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem. Despite the enthusiasm of the crowd, Jesus knew that the same people who praised Him would soon turn against Him, leading to His crucifixion. However, this triumphant entry marked a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry, where His identity as the Messiah was publicly acknowledged.

The message of Luke 19:38 encourages believers to recognise Jesus as the King who comes in the name of the Lord. It reminds us to acknowledge Jesus’ authority and to offer Him our praise and adoration. Just as the crowd proclaimed peace and glory, we should acknowledge the peace that Jesus brings between God and humanity through His sacrifice on the cross and give Him the glory that He deserves.

By studying this verse and the surrounding passage, we can deepen our understanding of Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah and the significance of His entry into Jerusalem.