And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Matthew 21:1-14 KJV
Jesus' entrance, riding into Jerusalem is one of a few incidents recorded in all four gospels. The others are:
The Cleansing of the Temple;
Feeding of the 5,000;
The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus!
It was His final entrance into Jerusalem before His Death and represents a critical and significant turn in His ministry. It was beginning of the rapid series of events leading to His eventual betrayal, trial, crucifixion and resurrection.
It showed Him in His:
Kingly role fulfilling prophetic and leadership requirements
Prophetic role in surgical cleansing and holiness declaration
Priestly Role in His ministration to the needs of the people
Jerusalem was populated with visitors for the upcoming feasts, and there was therefore a massive amount of witnesses to the culmination of the earthly ministry of Jesus.
The Jerusalem crowd was curious and moved by the event leading to them asking “Who is this?”
The hometown crowd in the procession replied proudly “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee!”
The tragedy is that:
They were moved not yet not improved.
They felt His presence yet gave Him no residence.
They honored Him yet ignored Him
They glorified Him yet crucified Him.
That original Palm Sunday emphasized a sequence of events!
1. Prophetic Event (Procession)
Jesus rode in like a King. This is the first time that Jesus deliberately presents the King’s calling card! To the scribes, students and teachers of the law and prophets he evoked the words of the prophets for All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,…Matthew 21:4 KJV
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Zechariah 9:9 KJV
Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. Isaiah 62:11 KJV
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. Psalms 118:25-26 KJV
2. Purging Event (Profession)
Jesus cleanses the temple in a prophetic and provocative manner, and declares the true function of the temple of God!
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:12-13 KJV
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 56:7 KJV
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 7:11 KJV
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1 KJV
3. Pastoral Event (Provision)
Jesus demonstrates the true purpose of the temple of God. It’s a place where man meets with God. It is not a place to deprive people of their hard earned wages and living but a place where there is ministry and provision of needs.
And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, Luke 19:47 KJV
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Matthew 21:14 KJV
The den of thieves was reclaimed for God and put to the purpose for which it was made. People come to the house of God and expect to meet with God. It is the duty of His ministers to zealously point the way to Him then humbly stand aside as the servants that they are, while the people meet with their King, Saviour, Healer and Redeemer! No substitute will suffice and any attempt at substitution is an act of robbery. The glory is His and His alone! No amount of personal charisma, human intelligence, or worldly props will ever substitute for a momentary encounter with the LORD! He alone can give rest to the human soul! He alone can bring peace to the heart and mind! He alone can give strength to the weary! He alone can take away the sin of the world!
BEHOLD HIM!!!
