Triumphal Entry
The Lord Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Memory verse Matthew 21:5,9 {“See, <[(your King comes to you), gentle and (riding on)]> a donkey, on <[(a colt,)]> the foal of a donkey.”
Introduction Last week we studied what happened on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter, James and John saw Jesus transfigured and full of glory. That glory was not only that of the Son of God which He had kept hidden since incarnation; it was also the glory of the Son of Man, which He alone had as a perfect man. The Lord Jesus came down from the mountain to complete His mission of redemption. He had to suffer and die on the Cross for the sins of the whole world. As He journeyed toward Jerusalem, where He would die, the Lord Jesus continued to teach His disciples and heal the sick. Today we will begin to study what happened to the Lord Jesus during the last week of His life on earth. We want to learn something from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Lesson and application for the SR and MD classes
(1) The Lord Jesus went to Jerusalem. (Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 9:51) Last week we learned that Peter confessed (spoke from his heart) that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Hebrew word for Christ is Messiah. Peter and the other disciples knew then that Jesus was the Messiah, the King, for whom the Jewish people had been waiting for hundreds of years. The disciples must have felt wonderful to be the followers of the King. They thought that when Jesus became King, they would be important officials in His kingdom. James and John thought that they might have the most important positions, sitting one on the Lord’s right hand and the other on His left hand in His kingdom. Therefore, the Lord Jesus had to correct their wrong ideas. He wanted them to understand that His Kingdom would be very different. He told His disciples that what Peter said was right. He was their King and Messiah, but He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the Jewish leaders (elders, chief priests and teachers of the law). He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus repeated this to His disciples at least three times. He knew what He would face when He went to Jerusalem, and He wanted His disciples to know it also. The Lord Jesus was not afraid of the suffering of the Cross. Luke tells us that He set out resolutely (with determination) for Jerusalem after He came down from the Mount of Transfiguration. He had decided to go the way of the Cross even when He was baptized by John the Baptist. But the disciples did not fully
1 Triumphal Entry understand, and they were fearful (afraid). The Lord Jesus and His disciples traveled to Galilee, and then through Samaria to Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke tells us many things that happened during those last six months in the life of the Lord Jesus. (We do not have time to look at those events. Maybe you can read them for yourself.) Today we want to look at what happened when the Lord Jesus came to Jerusalem in the last week of His life. The Lord Jesus had been to Jerusalem many times before. The Law required every Jewish man to go there three times a year: at Passover, at the feast of the first fruits, and at the feast of tabernacles (Exodus 23:14-17). Being obedient to God His Father, the Lord Jesus always went up to Jerusalem. He usually went there quietly to worship God. But at this Passover, it was very different. He entered Jerusalem publicly, accompanied by big crowds of people. We shall learn why He did that.
(2) “The Lord needs them.” (Mt. 21:1-6; Mark 11:1-6; Luke 19:28-34) A few days before Passover, the Lord Jesus was walking with His disciples toward Jerusalem. As they approached the city, they came to Bethphage (BETH-fah- gee) near Bethany. These were two small villages near the hill called the Mount of Olives or Olivet. (It was called this because of the groves of olive trees there.) Jesus sent two of His disciples into the village of Bethphage ahead of them. He told them, “As you enter the village, you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone asks you why you are doing that, just say, ‘The Lord needs them.’ The owner of the animals will send them without giving you any trouble.” The disciples went and found it just as the Lord Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and its colt to the Lord Jesus for Him to ride. Do you know that about 500 years before, the prophet Zechariah had prophesied that the Lord Jesus would be coming to Jerusalem riding on a colt? We read in Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! (In this prophecy, God called His people “Daughter” of Zion and Jerusalem.) See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal (young) of a donkey.” The Lord Jesus came to Jerusalem riding on the colt so that the prophecy might be fulfilled (happen). Why would the people rejoice (be happy) and shout? It was because their King was coming. God had promised them a King, a Messiah, who would come to save them from their enemy (the Romans in Jesus’ time). In those days, kings usually rode in fancy chariots pulled by white horses. But this King was very different. As Zechariah said, “He was righteous (doing what is right).” He could demand punishment for His enemies, including those Jewish leaders who were against Him. Instead, He came in love, bringing salvation with Him. He said of Himself, “I am gentle and humble in heart.” He rode on a donkey, a lowly animal ridden by the common people of that time. Donkeys were also used by people to carry heavy loads. (Even today in places where they do not have cars or trucks, they still use donkeys.) After a few days this King, the Lord Jesus, would bear the heavy burden of the sins of the Jewish people and the sins of the world. For their sins
2 Triumphal Entry and ours, He had to die on the Cross. Before that happened, their King came to Jerusalem riding on a colt. A colt is a young donkey. The Bible says that no man had ridden it. That means it was still wild and not tamed. Have you ever watched a rodeo show where a cowboy tries to ride a young, untamed horse or bull? The horse or bull jumps up and down trying to throw the cowboy off, and the cowboy tries to stay on as long as possible. In the end the animal always wins, and the cowboy gets thrown to the ground. But this untrained colt was different. It submitted to the Lord Jesus and carried Him in a very stately fashion into Jerusalem, with the mother donkey by its side. Do you know why this colt behaved so differently? It knew that the Person on its back was none other than the Lord of creation. As one of His creatures, this colt willingly let the Lord Jesus ride it. That colt heard the disciples say, “The Lord needs them,” and it must have felt very honored to be carrying the Lord Jesus to Jerusalem. You may be like that colt, young and not trained. If you should hear that the Lord wants to use you, would you be willing to let Him use you? That is by letting Him be Lord and King. Or you may be like the colt’s owner, having something the Lord wants to use. Would you let Him use it? There is a true story about a donkey driver many years ago. He took people to different places on his donkey, like a taxi. He knew donkeys very well. When he heard about the Lord Jesus’ riding on the colt, he was very astonished (surprised). He felt that such a thing was impossible unless Jesus was God. So, after hearing about the Lord Jesus’ riding on that colt, this donkey driver believed in the Lord Jesus.
(3) The triumphal entry. (Matthew 21:7-17; Mark 11:7-11; Luke 19:35-40; John 12:12-18) After the disciples brought the donkey and colt to the Lord Jesus, they put their garments on them. Jesus then rode on the colt toward Jerusalem. They started from Bethany and Bethphage up the Mount of Olives. As they went along, a crowd began to follow Him. Some people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from palm trees and spread them on the road also, making a kind of carpet for Him. As they came down the other side of the Mount of Olives, another crowd met them. They were people who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. They were amazed to hear about the raising of Lazarus from the dead. So when they heard that Jesus was coming, they came out from Jerusalem to meet Him. They shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Originally, the word Hosanna meant, “save us now,” but it has become a word of praise. The term Son of David means “Messiah,” because Messiah would be a descendant of David. They shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” They praised the Lord Jesus because they believed that He came as the King sent by their God. Do you know the chorus we sing that is similar to what they sang? (Today some people celebrate a special day called Palm Sunday. But the Lord Jesus’ triumphal entry might have been on a Saturday.) Matthew tells us even the children joined in the praises. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were very upset. They told the Lord Jesus to stop the people and
3 Triumphal Entry the children. The Lord Jesus replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” He also reminded them of Psalm 8:2, “From the lips of children and infants God has ordained (commanded) praise.” From this we know that the Lord Jesus wants to hear our praises because God has intended that we should praise Him. If we do not praise Him, the stones will, because the stones know that all creation should praise the Lord who has made them. It will be our shame if we do not thank the One who loved us and gave His life for us.
(4) Jesus wept over Jerusalem. (Luke 19:40-48) While the Lord Jesus was still on the Mount of Olives, He paused on a smooth stony ledge. The city of Jerusalem was in full view ahead of Him. Luke tells us that He wept. It was not like the quiet tears at Lazarus’ tomb, but a loud cry. He said, “If you had only known today what would bring you peace! But now it is too late. It is hidden from your eyes. 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. They will kill you and your children. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” The Lord Jesus was their King. He was God, coming to them with love. He came to serve His people, not demanding to be served. But His people, especially the leaders, refused to acknowledge (accept) Him as their King. On that day, He came to Jerusalem publicly (openly) to show them that He was their King. It was their last chance. He came exactly as prophesied by Zechariah so that it would be very clear that He was their King. They had no excuse to say that they did not know. Except for those people in the crowds following Him that day, all the rest still refused to accept Him as their King. A few days later, they shouted, “Do away with Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” It was very, very sad. God is very patient. But there is a limit to His patience. The time will come when He will have to say, “Enough is enough!” This happened to the Jewish people. The Lord Jesus showed His people again and again that He was their Messiah. But they refused to accept it. The Lord Jesus wept as He looked at Jerusalem that day because it hurt His heart very much to see them keep on refusing His love, and He also knew that God’s severe judgment would come upon them soon. About 40 years later, the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple so thoroughly that not one stone was left on another stone, just as the Lord Jesus had said. The Bible warns us also, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts (refuse to listen).” (Hebrews 4:7) We can only be sure of today because we do not know whether we will have a tomorrow or what will happen then. So as long as we have a chance today, let us show that we own (accept) the Lord Jesus as our King by listening to and obeying Him. Let us do all that we know will please Him. Let us show love to our parents and our brothers and sisters. Let us be content and thankful for all the good things the Lord has given us. Let us sing praises to the Lord Jesus as those children did on that day almost 2000 years ago, when the Lord Jesus rode triumphantly (as the King) into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey.
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Lesson and application for the PM and PS classes
(1) The Lord Jesus went to Jerusalem. Last week we learned that Peter confessed (spoke from his heart) that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Hebrew word for Christ is Messiah. Peter and the other disciples knew then that Jesus was the King the Jewish people had been waiting for. They thought Jesus would soon have a kingdom on earth. Jesus had to explain that His Kingdom would not be like the other kingdoms. He told His disciples that He was their King and Messiah, but that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things. He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. He knew what was going to happen, and He wanted His disciples to know too. The Lord Jesus was not afraid of what would happen, but the disciples did not understand, and they were afraid. The Lord Jesus and His disciples began to travel from near the Mount of Transfiguration toward Jerusalem. They traveled slowly and the Lord did miracles and taught His disciples many things along the way. They would arrive at Jerusalem in time for Passover. The Lord Jesus had been to Jerusalem many times before. He often went there quietly to worship God. But at this Passover, it was very different. He entered Jerusalem publicly (openly), followed by big crowds of people.
(2) “The Lord needs them.” A few days before Passover, the Lord Jesus and His disciples were near Jerusalem. They came to Bethphage (BETH-fah-gee) and Bethany, two small towns near the Mount of Olives. (It was a hill that had olive trees growing on it.) Jesus sent two of His disciples to the village ahead of them. He told them, “When you enter the village, you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone asks you why you are taking the donkeys, just say, ‘The Lord needs them.’ The owner of the animals will send them without giving you any trouble.” The disciples went and found it just as the Lord Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and its colt to the Lord Jesus for Him to ride on. In those days, kings usually rode in chariots pulled by white horses. But this King was very different. He was very humble; He rode on a donkey. Donkeys were animals ridden by ordinary people and used to carry heavy loads. Do you know that this had been prophesied 500 years before by the prophet Zechariah? The Bible tells us in Zechariah, “See, your King comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal (young) of a donkey.” A colt is a young donkey. The Bible says that this colt had never been ridden. It was still untamed. Have you ever watched a rodeo? Sometimes a cowboy will try to ride a young, untamed horse or bull. The horse or bull jumps up and down trying to throw the cowboy off. It does this because it is not used to being ridden; it does not like having someone on its back. The cowboy tries to stay on as long as possible. In the end the animal always wins, and the cowboy gets thrown to the ground. But this colt let the Lord Jesus ride him into Jerusalem. Do you know why this colt behaved
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(acted) so differently? It knew that the Person on its back was the Lord of creation. As one of His creatures, this colt willingly let the Lord Jesus ride it. It must have felt very proud to be carrying the Lord Jesus to Jerusalem. Maybe you are like that colt. If the Lord wants to use you, would you let Him use you? Or maybe you are like the colt’s owner and have something the Lord wants to use. Would you let Him use it? There is a true story about a donkey driver many years ago. He took people to different places on his donkey, like a taxi. He knew donkeys very well. He knew that it took a great deal of training before a donkey would let anyone ride it. When he heard about the Lord Jesus riding on the colt, he was very amazed (surprised). He knew that it was impossible to do this unless Jesus was God. So, he believed in the Lord Jesus.
(3) The triumphal entry. After the disciples brought the donkey and colt to the Lord Jesus, they put their coats on them. Jesus then rode on the colt to Jerusalem. They left Bethany and Bethphage and went up the Mount of Olives. A crowd began to follow Him. Some people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from palm trees and spread them on the road too, making a kind of carpet for Him. When they came down from the Mount of Olives, another crowd met them. These people had heard about the wonderful things Jesus did. When they heard that Jesus was coming, they came out from Jerusalem to meet Him. They shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The Son of David means “Messiah,” because the Jews knew that he would come from David’s family. They shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” They praised the Lord Jesus because they believed that He came as the King sent by their God. Sometimes we sing a chorus with these same words. The Bible tells us even the children joined in the praises. This made the Jewish leaders angry. They told the Lord Jesus to stop the people and the children. The Lord Jesus answered, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” He also reminded them that one of the Psalms says, “From the lips of children and infants God has ordered praise.” From this we know that the Lord Jesus wants to hear our praises. God made us so that we could praise Him. It would be shameful if we do not thank the Lord Jesus who loved us and gave His life for us. If we do not, the stones will shout, because the stones know that all creation should praise the Lord who has made them. How can boys and girls praise the Lord? You can thank Him in the morning for giving us a new day. You can thank Him for food every time you eat. You can thank Him for keeping you safe at the end of each day. You can join in the singing in the meetings. When you praise the Lord, God will be very pleased with you and you will be happy too.
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