From “Jesús’ Journey to the Cross” by Dr Greg Baxter
On Sunday our Lord and His disciples entered Jerusalem. The date of the Triumphal Entry was Nisan 10 when the Passover lamb was chosen. Jesus was presenting Himself as Israel’s Paschal lamb. There are four movements as recorded in the gospels:
1. As Jesus enters Jerusalem from Bethany He begins to weep for the holy city. His lament over the nation’s failure to respond in faith is deep and profound. Our Lord understands the consequences for rejecting Him as Savior and Lord. He sounds like Jeremiah weeping over the exile (Jer. 6:6-21; or Isaiah proclaiming the fall of Jerusalem (Isa. 29:1-4). He wept uncontrollably and violently as he looked out over Jerusalem and contemplated their rejection of him and ultimate destruction by Titus in 70A.D. There is no hope for any of us outside Christ- Luke 19:41-44.
2. After directing two of His disciples to Bethage to retrieve an unbroken colt, He enters Jerusalem as the crowd shouts “Hosanna to the son of David, Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!! Approaching Jerusalem On Colt (Hosanna!) The triumphal entry is recorded in all four gospels indicating the significance of this event in the life of Christ. He was officially presenting himself as the Messiah and King. This was the appointed day that the Prince of Peace would bring peace to the nation (Dan. 9:24-27). Jesus’ claim to be king is verified by four events.
First, He proves his claim by exercising his kingly authority by having the disciples bring him a donkey and her foal that has never been ridden. Matthew and John record our Lord fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy of Israel’s king entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zech. 9:9).
Secondly, the crown proves his claim as King by waving palm branches shouting out parts of Psalm 118:26- a direct reference to the people’s identification of Jesus as their Messiah.
Thirdly, the creation proves Jesus’ claim by being prepared to cry out that he indeed is King if the people did not (Luke 19:39-40).
Finally, Christ’s compassion for Jerusalem and all Israel proved his claim as King- Matt 21:1-9 Mark 11:1-10 Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19.
3. Arriving at the temple complex Jesus immediately drove out the money changers, sat down, and began to teach the people. Three years earlier he had cleansed the temple (John 2:13-16) for its corruption and now he finds God’s house has become a place of merchandise once again. He immediately drove out the moneychangers and overturned the benches of those selling doves. This house cleaning was in the area reserved for all nations, where the gentiles who wanted to worship the Lord (Isa. 56:7) could come and declare their devotion to the God of Israel. He immediately sat down and began to teach the people that the temple was not the place for commercial activities. The religious leaders were furious but could not do anything because they feared those who were listening and agreeing with Jesus teaching (Mark 11:18)- Matt. 21:10-17; Mark 11:11.
4. After a long day Jesus and the apostles returned to Bethany for the night-Matt 21:17 Mark 11:11 (Luke 21:37).
Questions for Reflection:
What does it mean Jesus was presented as the Passover lamb?
Are we willing to weep over lost loved ones?
What sin or sins do we get angry over?
Prayer.
Lord Jesus,
I worship and praise you as King over all creation and over my life. All honor and glory belong to you alone.
May we weep over our community knowing that rejecting Christ is a sentence of eternal death.
Renew the church’s vision to aggressively extend the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God until you come again or we enter into your presence. In Jesus name, Amen.
Keep the church from focusing on programs and projects that will take away from sharing the gospel with all people groups.
Compel each of us to remain faithful to our main mission which is Missions. In Jesus name, Amen.
