Jesus arrives in Jerusalem

The triumphal entry is that of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on what we know as Palm Sunday, the Sunday before the crucifixion.

Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living…. The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. John 12:1,12

The story of the triumphal entry is one of the few incidents in the life of Jesus which appears in all four Gospel accounts – see Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19

Putting the four accounts together, it becomes clear that the triumphal entry was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus’ day, but to Christians throughout history. We celebrate Palm Sunday to remember that momentous occasion.

On that day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed donkey’s colt, one that had never been ridden before. The disciples spread their cloaks on the donkey for Jesus to sit on, and the multitudes came out to welcome Him, laying before Him their cloaks and the branches of palm trees.

The people hailed and praised Him as the “King who comes in the name of the Lord” as He rode to the temple, where He both taught the people, healed them and drove out the money-changers and merchants who had made His Father’s house a “den of robbers” – Mark 11:17.

Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew tells us that the King coming on the foal of a donkey was an exact fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9 –
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Jesus rides into His capital city as a conquering King and is hailed by the people as such, in the manner of the day. The streets of Jerusalem, the royal city, are open to Him, and like a king, He ascends to His palace, not a temporal palace, but the spiritual palace which is the temple, because His is a spiritual kingdom.

He receives the worship and praise of the people because only He deserves it. No longer does He tell His disciples to be quiet about Him (Matthew 12:16-21), but to shout His praises and worship Him openly.

The spreading of cloaks was an act of homage for royalty (see 2 Kings 9:13). Jesus was openly declaring to the people that He was their King and the Messiah they had been waiting for.

Unfortunately, the praise the people lavished on Jesus was not because they recognised Him as their Messiah. They welcomed Him out of their desire for a deliverer, someone who would lead them in a revolt against Rome. There were many who, though they did not believe in Christ with a spiritual faith, nevertheless hoped that perhaps He might be to them a great temporal deliverer. These are the ones who hailed Him as King with their many Hosannas, recognising Him as the Son of David who came in the name of the Lord. But when He failed in their expectations, when He refused to lead them in a massive revolt against the Roman occupiers and those who collaborated with them, the crowds quickly turned on Him.

Within just a few days, their Hosannas would change to cries of “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:20-21). Those who hailed Him as a hero would soon reject and abandon Him.

The story of the triumphal entry is one of contrasts and those contrasts are the application to believers. It is the story of the King who came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not a prancing steed, not in royal robes, but on the clothes of the poor and humble.

Jesus Christ comes not to conquer by force as earthly kings, but by love, grace, mercy, and His own sacrifice for His people. His is not a kingdom of armies and splendour, but of lowliness and servanthood. He conquers not nations, but hearts and minds. His message is one of peace with God, not of temporal peace.

If Jesus has made a triumphal entry into our hearts, He reigns there in peace and love. As His followers, we exhibit those same qualities and the world sees the true King living and reigning in triumph in us.

Recommended Resource: One Perfect Life: The Complete Story of the Lord Jesus by Dr John MacArthur.

Jesus actually knew what was about to take place and He went anyway. And Jesus actually predicts His death and resurrection from the dead …..

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.

On the third day he will be raised to life! Mark 10:32-34

No other God has done this – no other God has an empty tomb – there’s no other way to heaven, only Jesus.

There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.Acts 4:12

Please share this message with your friends, if this message doesn’t get passed on then all that Jesus did is wasted!

2015 – From Elaine Costin – Capturing Sunrise – https://www.capturingsunrise.com