Triumphal Entry
Luke 19:28-44
A chilly Thanksgiving morning, floats rolled by the Macy’s Department store in New York City. Big balloons follow. Resonant bands and peppy pompom Girls. The Rockettes dance to the tune of New York, New York. Then through all the glitter and dance a hush comes upon the crowd as they gasp in anticipation. Smiles shine upon wide eyed children as their ears are filled with a hearty, “Ho, ho, ho!” The crowd then breaks out with the cheer, “Merry Christmas. Santa Claus is come to town!”
Parades have a way of filling everyone who participates in them with joy and cheer. For both the marcher and the observer.
Traditionally, parades honor a special person or event. For instance, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade honors the coming of Christmas and the famed Santa Claus.
When we think of Palm Sunday we hear that cry, “Hosanna” on the road to Jerusalem. Here, the Son of God is exalted. He is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Luke 19:28-44
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, ’Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ’The Lord needs it.’"
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34 They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-- but now it is hidden from your eyes.
43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you."
(NIV)
The Mount of Olives forms a ridge about 2 miles long. This was a favorite place of Jesus during his ministry. Here he will pray to his Father, “Not my will”, and receive the betraying kiss of Judas and be arrested. It is no doubt Jesus was thinking ahead as he stood on this mount, which lay about 1 1/2 miles southeast of the city of Bethphage.
As Jesus and his disciples stood on the mount, Jesus told two disciples (who are unnamed in Luke as well as the other synoptic books) to “Go to the village”. Luke doesn’t record what village, however Matthew 21:1 reveals it to be the city of Bethphage.
In 1877, a stone called the Fresco Inscription was found in Bethphage. The picture on the stone depicts two mean untying a donkey and its colt. Matthew 21:2 verifies that two of Jesus disciples want into Bethphage and untied a donkey and its colt. Here is evidence to combat those skeptical of the Bible’s authenticity.(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The disciples did as Jesus told them. They went to untie the colt and the colts owner questioned them. “Why are you taking my colt?” he inquired.
This would be like someone opening your car door and sitting in the drivers seat trying to hot wire it. What would you say?
Now it is possible that Jesus had arranged to borrow it. Or it could be another miraculous event. This wouldn’t be unlike Jesus. He was known for his one liners that produced miracles. Clint Eastwood was a “one-liner” man. Who can forget his stalwart “Go ahead. Make my Day!” in “Dirty Harry.”?
Some of Jesus one-liners were, “Rise up, take your bed and walk,” to the lame man; “Go wash your eyes and see” to the blind Bartimaus; and the powerful, “Lazarus, come forth!”, which raised Lazarus from the .
So when the disciples came to get the colt for Jesus, the owner questioned them. That is pretty predictable. Any of us would question someone removing our property. What isn’t predictable is the fact that when the disciples simply responded, “The Master has need of it,” the owner was compelled to allow them to take the colt. This very well could have been another one of Jesus’ miracles.
However it happened, the disciples brought the colt to Jesus. It was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 that their king bringing salvation would also come riding on a colt.
Zech 9:9
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.
(NIV)
Note the colt had never been ridden before. I’ve seen what can happen when you attempt to ride an animal that doesn’t want to be ridden.
ILL. If you have ever seen a rodeo then you know how an animal behaves when it doesn’t want to be ridden. The Thing will buck, snort and stomp anyone in his way those animals are powerful.
Like those in a rodeo, Sometimes, animals can be unpredictable, especially when they aren’t trained properly. To me, it is a miracle that such a stubborn and obstinate beast was submissive to a man. Of course, let’s not forget who was riding this “beast”, the Son of God, the Creator.. If Jesus can speak to the winds and the sea and they obey, then an unbroken donkey can surely be tamed by the Master’s touch.
Most kings would enter a city on a prancing stallion. By contrast, Jesus humbly entered Jerusalem on this young, untrained animal, and this sent a message to the people that he was indeed their King of Salvation and he also fulfilled the words of the prophet Zechariah.
As Jesus came riding the colt, the people laid their coats in the street. During a wedding, a bride is given similar respect. Many times, a carpet of pure white is laid down and the flower girl will sprinkle it with petals of lovely flowers in preparation of the entrance of the bride. This preparation symbolizes the innocence of the bride-she is too pure to walk on the tainted ground..
Not only did the people lay down their coats, but John 12:13 tells us they brought palm branches.
John 12:13
13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
(NIV)
The honor given here is recognizing Jesus as King. When a king is announced, trumpets are blown and the red carpet is rolled out. As Jesus entered Jerusalem that final week of his life, he is bestowed with kingly praise. They are ready to receive their King. These people were living under Roman oppression, and they were understandably tired of it. The Jews were treated less than human. They were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the king that had been promised since the time of David. But their idea was of a political King. They did not realize he was much more than that, but he was a King providing Atonement for their sins.
The Triumphal Entry is the first event in a series that marks the last days of Jesus on this earth. Jesus was about to see his final week. The very next day Jesus enters the temple and cleanses it of the money changers and thieves. By these actions Jesus is sending the message that he is the Supreme Authority.
Up until now, Jesus kept this fact somewhat quiet. There were occasions in which he instructed those he healed to tell no one, as is the case with the leper in
Matt 8:4
4 Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
(NIV)
When Jesus questioned his disciples about who people thought he was,Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him in Mark 8:30.
Mark 8:30
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
(NIV)
A similar warning was given in Matt. 17:9 to Peter, James and John after the transfiguration.
Matt 17:9
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the ."
(NIV)
There was a specified time in God’s plan that the Sovereignty of Jesus should be disclosed. And that time was the Triumphal Entry. It is the beginning of a week in which Jesus establishes without a doubt just exactly who he is.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people cried, “Hosanna!” which means, “save us now”. The word originally was a prayer requesting God’s help, but it had become a cry of joy or a shout of welcome by this time in Jewish history.
The word Hosanna was also associated with Jewish hopes for deliverance by a political hero. When shouted to Jesus by pilgrims and children, it indicates they saw in him the fulfillment of their Messianic expectations. But Jesus came as a spiritual deliverer on a lowly donkey-- not as a conquering military hero on a prancing horse.
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Jesus task was indeed to save his people. As the people continued their praise, the Pharisees rebuked Jesus. The Pharisees were a little nervous because Jesus was receiving this magnitude of praise. They thought that Jesus should have told everyone to calm down. This of course demonstrated their jealousy and hypocrisy since they themselves loved to receive praise. The Pharisees did things intentionally to get peoples attention and applause. They wore long robes, which was a symbol of holiness; they would pray publicly on the corner to be seen by men. They were the epitome of insincerity.
Jesus did not rebuke his followers however, for two reasons.
1) Jesus deserved this praise. Who are we to withhold praise from our very Maker, Master and Savior? Jesus has proven he is the one whom he claimed to be, the Son of God.
2) Jesus tells them that if the people didn’t praise him, the very rocks would cry out! What an awesome statement. What a stinging slap in the face to those sanctimonious Pharisees. Jesus, who speaks to the elements and they obey, said they would burst forth with praise of him!
I truly believe that nature would respond if the people didn’t. Jesus cursed the fig tree and it died. He spoke to the winds twice and they were silent. He even walked on the water. Jesus had control over nature. Creations finely crafted instruments would swell in a mighty crescendo in a symphony of praise. And it would all happen simply because Jesus deserves praise!
As Jesus approached Jerusalem amid loud hosannas and praises of joy, it is ironic to find Jesus weeping. Why would he cry at this point of triumph? Again, Jesus realizes what the end of this week shall bring. He will enter Jerusalem with praises and he will leave the city with the curse, “Crucify Him!” He would die for these people, for me and you. Surely, the Son of Man’s heart was pierced.
The people still didn’t understand. They are expecting an earthly king. Their eyes didn’t leave this earthly dwelling. In order to see what God has in store, one must look heavenward.
Even as the week progresses and the tone of the crowd changes, it becomes the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus hung on the cross, and thanks be to God that is not the end of the story. Jesus conquered sin and death by rising from the grave and then later ascending into heaven. We wait patiently for his return.
No man knows the hour. He will come like a thief in the night. Our job is to be ready. We don’t know when it will be, but we do know that the next time Jesus comes, he will not be on a donkey’s colt, but on a white stallion. He will not be the meek and lowly Jesus we read about in Luke 19. He will be the Lord of Judgment that we see in Rev. 19:11-16
Rev 19:11-16
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
(NIV)
Jesus will reign triumphantly. He will judge with power and might. We need to decide which side of judgment that we will be on.
I want to be on Jesus side where there is no judgment, but grace is given to all who profess him as their Lord. In order for me to be on that side, I must live according to God’s will and strive for holiness.
Have you made you decision this morning? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you striving to please God? Will you be judged? Come this morning and accept the eternal, justified life our triumphant King of Kings has to offer.
