In Luke 19:42, it is written: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” Yet they did not know what they truly needed. It was hidden from their sight because they had their desires, and they insisted on those desires: political freedom, economic stability, social independence, and other things focused on meeting physical needs. But Jesus offered another kind of freedom — higher, deeper, and far more in line with the deepest needs of humanity, and this was the true freedom they needed for their peace.
Were the Jews wrong to welcome Jesus as King? No. What was bad was that they welcomed their version of the King. They created a “God” according to their own will, which was the great mistake.
It is an expensive lesson. A person can praise God with shouts such as, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hallelujah! God Almighty!” — but does that mean they are truly close to God? God’s Word in Matthew 15:8 says: “These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” The praise-and-worship movement in Indonesia has produced many beautiful new songs, full of spontaneity and intense emotion. Many people feel deeply intimate with God while singing. But does that mean they know Him correctly?
The Jews welcomed Jesus with high praise, yet their concept was wrong. This is similar to many Christians today — though certainly not all — who call Jesus “Lord,” but the question remains: “Which version of the Lord? The human version, or God’s version?”
If we confess Jesus as Savior, then we must understand salvation in God’s terms. Salvation does not mean being rescued from worldly problems; it means being restored to God’s original design for humanity. That is the true meaning of salvation. Do not focus only on meeting physical needs, though that does not mean we should live carelessly. Striving for material needs is not wrong, but it should not be done in a mystical or superstitious way. We must pursue them with genuine effort, hard work, and a logical, realistic mindset.
For example, nations like Japan and China, often considered non-religious, have advanced because their people are hardworking and responsible. This should be a model to follow, not something to belittle. Meeting physical needs should not be done through instant or irrational means. It is troubling to see many Christians with wrong concepts. They sing, “God is good, perfect,” but the question is: good according to whom? According to humans, or according to God?
God’s Word is extraordinary. The Gospel is beautiful. But if we do not explore it properly, we will never see its beauty. The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a picture of today’s Christians — outwardly looking like God’s chosen people, yet thinking like worldly people who do not know Him. They believe peace comes from worldly pleasures, and so their minds are fixed on earthly matters.
This does not mean we do not need money, a house, a car, or other facilities. The question is: What is our motivation for having them? What is our purpose for having money? Is money our tool, or our goal? Do not settle for merely being rich — be very rich. Do not settle for simply being intelligent — be very intelligent. God has given us great potential, and we must develop it healthily and realistically, not in a mystical way.