The Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday
Introduction
It’s on my heart this morning to talk about Palm Sunday and what we often call the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
One writer set the stage for this event and those that followed by saying…
It’s early in the final week. The props and players for Friday’s drama are in position. Six-inch spikes are in the bin. A cross-beam leans against a shed wall. Thorn limbs are wrapped around a trellis awaiting the weaving of a soldier’s fingers.
The participants are nearing the stage. Pilate is concerned at the number of Passover pilgrims. Annas and Caiaphas are restless over a volatile Nazarene. Judas views his master with evasive eyes. A centurion is available, awaiting the next crucifixions.
Players and props. Only this is no play, it’s a divine plan. A plan begun before Adam felt heaven’s breath and now all heaven waits and watches. All eyes are on one figure – the Nazarene.
Commonly clad. Uncommonly focused. Leaving Jericho and walking toward Jerusalem. He doesn’t chatter. He doesn’t pause. He is on a journey. His final journey.
Even the angels are silent. They know this is no ordinary walk. They know this is no ordinary week. For hinged on this week is the door of eternity.
Let’s walk with him.
Let’s see how Jesus spent his final days.
Let’s see what mattered to God.
When a man knows the end is near - only the important surfaces. Impending death distills the vital. The trivial is bypassed. The unnecessary is overlooked. That which is vital remains. So, if you would know Christ, ponder his final days.
He knew the end was near. He knew the finality of Friday. He read the last chapter before it was written and heard the final chorus before it was sung. As a result, the critical was filtered from the casual. Distilled truths taught. Deliberate deeds done. Each step calculated. Every act premeditated.
Knowing he had just one week with the disciples, what did Jesus tell them? Knowing it would be his last time in the temple, how did he act? Conscious that the last sand was slipping through the hourglass, what mattered?
Enter the holy week and observe.
Feel his passion. Laughing as children sing. Weeping as Jerusalem ignores. Scorning as priests accuse. Pleading as disciples sleep. Feeling sad as Pilate turns.
Sense his power. Blind eyes...seeing. Fruitless tree...withering. Money changers...hastening away. religious leaders...cowering. Tomb...opening.
Hear his promise. Death has no power. Failure holds no prisoners. Fear has no control. For God has come, God has come into your world...to take you home.
Let’s follow Jesus on his final journey. For by observing his, we may learn how to make ours. (Max Lucado – “And The Angels Were Silent”)
This event before us now is one of those wonderful and intriguing events in the life of the Lord Jesus which is recorded by all four of the gospel writers; all four bringing something unique and distinct to the retelling of this occurrence.
The TRIUMPHAL ENTRY (was) the entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem on the Sunday prior to His crucifixion. Due to the fact that palm branches were placed before Him, this day is often called “Palm Sunday.” The event is recorded in Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-15. All accounts agree in substance with each adding certain detail. Whether by prearrangement or by divine foreknowledge, the disciples found a colt in Bethphage as Jesus had described (Matthew ties the account closely to Zechariah’s prophecy (9:9), mentioning the colt and its mother.) It is likely that Christ rode the donkey for the more difficult part of the journey, transferring to the colt upon actually entering Jerusalem. There a large crowd applauded Him, spreading the road with their garments and with branches. They acknowledged Him as the son of David.
The triumphal entry is of vital significance in understanding the messianic mission of Jesus. Prior to this moment, Jesus had refused to allow any public acknowledgment of His being the Messiah. By conducting His ministry outside Jerusalem, He had avoided further intensification of conflict with the Jewish religious leaders. Now, however, the time was at hand. The opponents of Jesus understood the strong messianic implications of the manner of His entry into Jerusalem. The riding upon the colt, the garments and palm branches in the road, and the shouts of the multitude – all of this pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. When He was urged to quiet the people, Jesus replied, “If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out!” (Luke 19:40). (Steve Echols from the Holman Bible Dictionary)
I want us to notice a few things about the situation and significance of His entrance into Jerusalem, and as we do…
I. Let’s Consider The Revelations Involved In This Entrance
A. This Account Reveals The Hour Of Christ
1. Notice The Mentions Of This Hour
a. In Prophecy
(Matthew 21:4-5) All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, {5} 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.
The quote is from the prophet Zechariah…
(Zechariah 9:9) 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.
“Behold,” commands both attention and admiration. (Matthew Henry)
Zechariah wrote this some 500 years before it happened.
And yet the cry of the crowd was penned about a 1,000 years before this event.
(Psalms 118:24-26) This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. {25} Save now, I beseech thee (yasha na anna – Hebrew words that combine to form the word “Hosanna), O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. {26} Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
b. In Postponement
(John 2:4) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
(John 7:30) Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
(John 8:20) These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
2. Notice The Manifestation Of This Hour
(John 12:23) And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
(John 13:1) Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
B. This Account Reveals His Humility Of Character
1. There Is An Evidence Of Humility In The Transportation
Ironically, though the triumphal entry was a public acceptance of being the Messiah and presented a direct challenge to His enemies, it must have been a disappointment to many of His followers. Christ did not enter Jerusalem upon a war horse of conquest (as in Revelation 19:11) but upon a colt representing humility. (Steve Echols)
Later we will see that there is a certain dignity suggested in the riding of the mule and the donkey in Israel, but there is also a sense of commonness in the riding of the donkey. (Festus Hagen road a mule on “Gunsmoke”)
He speaks as a man of need. He who could see all things and foretell all things confesses to His personal necessity. The head that carried all knowledge had not where to sleep, of its own right and title. And again in that very self-same sentence He used a word which throws the term need into striking contrast -- Lord. Such strange mixture do we find in the talk of this Man. Lord and need in the same sentence. He does not give up His royalty because of His necessity, nor does His royalty and lordship save Him from need. And yet what need could he have who had but to express the wish and it was instantly complied with? It was a sweet necessity, it was the pain of that hunger which had wherewith to satisfy itself. (Dr. Joseph Parker from The Biblical Illustrator)
2. There Is An Evidence Of Humility In The Terms
(Zechariah 9:9) 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.
lowly – Hebrew 6041. 'aniy, aw-nee'; from H6031; depressed, in mind or circumstances:--afflicted, humble, needy, poor.
(Matthew 21:5) 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.
meek – Greek 4239. praus, prah-ooce'; appar. a prim. word; mild, i.e. (by impl.) humble:--meek.
C. This Account Reveals The Human Condition (As Seen In The Donkey)
1. Notice The Donkey’s Place
a. It Was In A Place Of Crossroads
(Mark 11:4) And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
b. It Was In A Place Of Crudeness
(Matthew 21:1) And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
Bethphage – means the house of crudeness; or the house of the unripe fig. It has the idea of being undeveloped.
2. Notice The Donkey’s Personality
A donkey is generally known for being willful and stubborn, and this one in particular was not broken.
(Mark 11:2) And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
Here is an animal that no one had ever sat on – but Jesus sat on him, and he was quiet, responsive, and obedient, and carried him through the streets of the city. (Ray Stedman on Mark 11)
When Jesus came into this stubborn one’s life, it is completely surrendered to the will of the master.
In spite of the importance of the donkey’s role in the fulfillment of prophecy, he still plays a bit part. His job is to lift up Jesus so that Jesus can be seen by the crowds. (Guy Caley from SermonCentral.com)
All of these things reminds us of our own condition when Jesus found us.
This colt had never been broken in; it had never found its right place until it was requisitioned for the use of the Lord, and none of us are in our right place until we are subdued to Him. We were destined for that purpose from our birth. There is a certain protective restraint exercised over all those who are marked out to carry the Lord in testimony; a restraint is put upon them in the ways of God so that they are held. The ways of God do not begin with us when we are converted; there comes a moment when the Lord requisitions us. As we have often seen in this gospel, it is not so much that man needs God but that God needs man. So here the Lord had need of the colt; it was requisitioned for a special purpose. The colt was subdued – who would trust himself to ride on an unbroken colt? The fact that the Lord rode on an unbroken colt intimates that the power by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself has already subdued that which can carry Him in testimony. (C.A. Coates – Luke)
II. Let’s Consider The Roles Involved In This Entrance
A. Notice The Role Of The Co-workers
1. We Find The Obscurity Of These Two (We don’t know which disciples they were.)
(Matthew 21:1) And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2. We Find The Obedience Of These Two
(Matthew 21:2-3) 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. {3} And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
(Matthew 21:6) And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
B. Notice The Role Of The Colt
1. Consider The Colt’s Master Mark 11:5-6; Luke 19:33-34
(Mark 11:5-6) And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? {6} And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
(Luke 19:33-34) And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? {34} And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
The owner of the ass was no doubt a disciple or well-wisher of Jesus, and therefore readily consented to respond to the Master’s need. (J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton – The Fourfold Gospel)
The will of the “Lord” superceded the will of the owner.
2. Consider The Colt’s Mother
(Only Matthew mentions both the donkey and its colt. The mother may have been brought to calm the colt.)
Some think that he had herein an eye to the custom in Israel for the judges to ride upon white asses (Judges 5:10), and their sons on ass-colts, Judges 12:14. (Matthew Henry)
In the song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5, it was said…
(Judges 5:10) Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
(Judges 10:3-4) And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. {4} And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
(Judges 12:13-14) And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. {14} And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
Perhaps the donkey was brought for the great judge Jehovah and the colt was brought for the Son of the judge.
C. Notice The Role Of The Crowd
1. Look At What They Spread
(Matthew 21:8) And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way.
a. Their Poor Suits
garments – Greek 2440. himation, him-at'-ee-on; neut. of a presumed der. of ennumi (to put on); a dress (inner or outer):--apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture.
b. Their Palm Shoots
b1. Palm Branches Are Associated With The (Meal) Feast Of Tabernacles
Leviticus 23:40-44 The Deliverance Of God’s People
b2. Palm Branches Are Associated With The Millennial Temple
Ezekiel 40:16, 22, 26, 31, 34, 37 The Devotion Of God’s People
b3. Palm Branches Are Associated With Maximum Triumph
Revelation 7:9 The Destination Of God’s People
2. Listen To What They Said
a. Many Were Claiming His Identity
(Matthew 21:9) 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.
a1. In A Beseeching Cry Hosanna
Hosanna means, “Oh, Save!” or “Save Now!”
(Psalms 118:25) Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
a2. In A Blessing Cry Blessed Is He...
(Psalms 118:26) Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
b. Many Were Curious About His Identity
(Matthew 21:10) And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
III. Let’s Consider The Rider Involved In This Entrance
A. Jesus Rode In Like A Sovereign Monarch
(Matthew 21:4-5) All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, {5} 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.
(Matthew 21:9) 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.
1. There Is A Kingly Connection To The Colt
Numerous Scripture references show that the ass was held in high estimation in the East. The sons of the judges used them, and David’s mule was used at the coronation of Solomon (Judges 10:4; 1 Kings 1:33). (J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton – The Fourfold Gospel)
(1 Kings 1:33) The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
The Bible says that when Solomon became king…
(1 Kings 1:40) And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
And similarly, the Bible says that when Jesus rode into Jerusalem…
(Luke 19:37-38) And when he was come nigh, even now at 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 that they had seen; {38} Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
2. There Is A Kingly Connection To The Clothes
(Matthew 21:6-7) And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, {7} And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
Cf. (2 Kings 9:13) Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.
B. Jesus Rode In Like A Saving Messenger
1. Look At The Hosanna Cry
(Matthew 21:9) 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.
hosanna – Greek 5614. hosanna, ho-san-nah'; of Heb. or. [H3467 and H4994]; oh save!; hosanna (i.e. hoshia-na), an exclamation of adoration.
3467. yasha', yaw-shah'; a prim. root; prop. to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by impl.) to be safe; causat. to free or succor:-- X at all, avenging, defend, deliver (-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save (-iour), get victory.
4994. na', naw; a prim. particle of incitement and entreaty, which may usually be rendered I pray, now or then; added mostly to verbs (in the Imperat. or Fut.), or to interj., occasionally to an adv. or conj.:--I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh.
Cf. (Psalms 118:25) Save now, I beseech thee (yasha na anna – Hebrew words that combine to form the word “Hosanna), O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
2. Look At A Historical Correlation
The order commanding the murder of all the Jews in the empire was sent by means (of a messenger) – Esther 3:13-15. The order that counteracted this proclamation was sent by “couriers, riding the royal horses (mules and camels, KJV), raced out, spurred on by the king’s command.”
(James M. Freeman – Manners & Customs of the Bible)
(Esther 8:10) And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
These riders were bringing a message of salvation to the Hebrew people.
C. Jesus Rode In Like A Serving Missionary
1. There Is A Survey Of His Work
(Mark 11:11) And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
(Luke 19:41) And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
wept – Greek 2799. klaio, klah'-yo; of uncert. affin.; to sob, i.e. wail aloud (whereas G1145 is rather to cry silently):--bewail. weep.
2. There Is A Similarity In The Word
(Nehemiah 1:3-4) And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. {4} And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
(Nehemiah 2:12-14) And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. {13} And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. {14} Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
Both of these men looked out over the city where their work would be accomplished.
Conclusion
I was reading about the president’s inaugural parade. The nation’s third president Thomas Jefferson was the first to take his oath in Washington, D.C. Afterward he rode his horse to the president’s mansion. Woodrow Wilson’s first inaugural parade in 1913 was the largest with 40,000 participants. Sometimes the president will get out and walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the grandstand greeting and waving as he goes. Once the parade is over he assumes his role.
Similarly, Jesus rode into the city in a grand parade before He occupied his office on Calvary.