Triumphal Entry Series

-Sunday-

Bethany, Jerusalem, Bethany

(Title) Triumphal Entry

(Zech. 9:9), Matt. 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44 (Focal Passage), John 12:12-19

28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,

30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.

31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”

32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.

33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”

34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”

35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.

36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,

42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,

44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

It was now the Sunday before His crucifixion. Jesus was near the eastern slope of the Mountt of Olives on His way to Jerusalem.

This event is traditionally known as the “Triumphal Entry,” in which Jesus officially offers Himself to the nation of Israel as her long-awaited Messiah. However, in many ways it is far from a triumph, for the day ends with Jesus’ public prediction of His rejection by His own people.

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was an event of outstanding significance. Note the following:

1. By means of it, Jesus deliberately evoked a demonstration. The enthusiasm of the masses enraged the hostile religious leaders in Jerusalem. Therefore, they wanted more than ever to carry out their plot against Him.

2. Jesus forced the members of the Sanhedrin to move up their timetable for eliminating Jesus. The time was set by the Father in eternity past, and He would see that it happened just as He said it would; not according to man’s timetable.

3. By means of this triumphal entry Jesus fulfills the prophesy of Zechariah 9:9. When people hail Him as the Son of David, the Messiah, He does not try to refrain them.

4. However, He also shows them what kind of Messiah He is. He was not the earthly Messiah of Israel’s dreams, the One who wages war against an earthly oppressor. Instead, he would bring lasting peace, peace between God and man and between man and his fellow man.

29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,

The record of the last week begins here. The time had arrived for Him to present Himself openly to the Jewish people as their Messiah-King. He would do this in fulfillment of the prophecy of *Zechariah 9:9.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

On the way up from Jericho, Jesus came to the east side of the Mount of Olives where Bethany (means “house of the poor, humble, oppressed”) and Bethphage (means “house of unripe figs”) were located. From there the road skirted the south end of Olivet, dipped into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, crossed the Brook Kidron, and climbed up to Jerusalem. Bethany was about two miles east of Jerusalem and Bethphage was situated nearby. Jesus made this trip many times. He stayed in Bethany in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and from there He was able to walk into Jerusalem to minister *(Matt. 21:17).