Make Way For The King!

The week prior to Palm Sunday, Jesus and his disciples were traveling to Jericho on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Along the way, He was teaching, healing, seeking the lost - doing everything that pointed to Him as the Messiah. His disciples had the idea that He was going to Jerusalem to set up His kingdom but in reality, Jesus was preparing them for His death.

The Jews were aware of the Old Testament prophecies from Zechariah 4:4-9 that spoke of the coming Messiah who, on the day that he would step foot on the mount of Olives, would establish His worldwide Kingdom immediately. According to the prophet Ezekiel, at the commencement of the Millennial Kingdom, the Messiah would walk down from the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley, through the East Gate, and then take His seat on the throne. The Psalmist said, “Open up ancient gates! Open up ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter” (Ps 24: 7). This is why Suleiman the Magnificent back in the 1500s, bricked up the Eastern Gate with five meters of concrete to prevent the Jewish Messiah from gaining entrance into Jerusalem.

The disciple’s interpretation of the conquering Messiah was partially correct, but their timing was off - this part of Zechariah's prophecy was to be fulfilled at Messiah's Second Coming, not His First Coming. So right before Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He shared a parable with His disciples about the nobleman traveling to a distant country and leaving his servants in charge until he returned. Jesus understood the timing of the fulfillment of the prophecies and was telling His disciples that during the interim period, before His second coming, they were to get on with the job that He had entrusted to them.

Jesus’ followers were waiting for Him to establish His Kingdom on earth, but He first came to establish the Kingdom in people’s hearts.

Luke 19:29-44

29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mountain that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent left and found it just as He had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and they threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 Now as He was going, they were spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 And as soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting:

“BLESSED IS the King, THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And yet some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” 40 Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!”

41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known on this day, even you, the conditions for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will put up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground, and throw down your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

As Jesus and His entourage were traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem they stopped in Bethany, the place where He raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus told his disciples to go and get the colt, one that no one has ever ridden on (implying that it is reserved for royal usage). If anyone asks, “why are you taking this?” tell them, “The Lord has need of this” and this is exactly what happened. Obviously, Jesus had many other disciples, men and women who stood ready to serve Him in various ways and God made sure these needs were taken care of. Whether it was a place of lodging, a colt, where they would celebrate the Passover, or even His burial site - whatever His needs were, these faithful friends were ready and willing to provide these. That one word, "The Lord needs it," was all that was required.