Introduction

Good morning, beloved congregation. It is always a joy to gather together in the house of our Lord, to bask in His love and grace, and to delve into His living Word. Today, we stand on the precipice of a grand narrative, a narrative that is woven with divine threads of prophecy, perception, and personal implications. We are about to step into the vibrant tapestry of the Triumphant Entry.

Our Scripture today is drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, verses 1 through 11. Allow the words of the Holy Spirit to wash over you as I read:

"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘Say to Daughter Zion, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’”

What a scene! What a moment! The King of Kings, entering the city of Jerusalem, not on a war horse, but on a humble donkey. And the crowds, oh the crowds, they recognized Him, they celebrated Him, they laid their cloaks and palm branches on the road, a royal carpet for the King of Peace. But did they truly understand who He was? Did they grasp the magnitude of His mission?

Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, once said, "There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below." Jesus, our Savior, was the ultimate cross-bearer, and His triumphant entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of His journey to the cross, a journey marked by humility, sacrifice, and unfathomable love.

As we unpack this passage today, we will see the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, the perceptions of the Messiah by the people of His time, and the personal implications for us, the followers of Christ. How does this scene resonate with us today? How does it shape our understanding of who Jesus is and what He came to do?

Prophetic Fulfillment in the Triumphant Entry

As we begin to unpack the richness of this passage, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of history and prophecy. The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was not a random event, but a divine orchestration, a fulfillment of ancient prophecies that pointed to the coming of the Messiah. This is a profound truth, a testament to the sovereignty of God and the inerrancy of His Word.

The prophet Zechariah, hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, prophesied about a king who would come to Zion, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). This was a clear and specific prophecy about the Messiah, the King of Israel. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, He was fulfilling this prophecy to the letter. This was not a coincidence, but a divine appointment, a clear sign that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.

But why a donkey? In the ancient Near East, a king riding a donkey symbolized peace, while a king riding a horse symbolized war. By choosing to ride a donkey, Jesus was sending a clear message: He was not coming as a warlike conqueror, but as a Prince of Peace. This was a radical departure from the popular expectation of the Messiah as a military hero who would overthrow the Roman oppressors. Jesus was redefining kingship, not in terms of power and might, but in terms of humility and peace.

The response of the crowd was also significant. They spread their cloaks on the road and cut branches from the trees to spread on the road. This was a royal welcome, a sign of honor and respect. The people recognized Jesus as their King, even if they did not fully understand the nature of His kingship. They shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" The term "Hosanna" means "save us now." The people were crying out for salvation, for deliverance. They saw in Jesus their hope, their deliverer.

However, it is important to note that their understanding of salvation was primarily political. They were looking for a Messiah who would deliver them from Roman oppression. But Jesus came to bring a different kind of salvation, a spiritual salvation. He came to deliver us from sin and death, to reconcile us to God. This was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53, where the Messiah is described as a suffering servant who would bear our sins and bring us peace.

Perceptions of the Messiah during the Triumphant Entry

As we continue to immerse ourselves in this vibrant narrative, we find ourselves standing shoulder to shoulder with the crowds in Jerusalem, watching as Jesus makes His way into the city ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO