Triumphant Entry

Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives. There the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God with joy. In loud voices they praised Him for all the miracles they had seen. They shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Luke 19:37-38

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem
On a lowly donkey's colt,
The crowd became excited,
But the Pharisees feared a revolt.

The crowds shouted, “Hosanna!”
Laying palm leaves on the ground.
They expected Jesus to save them as
A warrior king to be crowned.

The people were right to honor Him,
But they understood Him not.
It wasn't for a government seat,
But their eternal life He sought.

Jesus came on a donkey
To show He's the Prince of Peace;
His purpose on earth was nearing the end,
He knew His life would soon cease.

Jesus began His last week 
With a triumphant entry;
Yet before the week was over,
The crowd would turn on Him, angry.

But we have the privilege of hindsight,
For we know the whole story;
So when we shout Hosanna!
We're giving Jesus our Savior all glory!

We are soon approaching Palm Sunday. It celebrates the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem the week before His death. I remember while I was visiting in Jerusalem, we walked along the pathway Jesus had taken that day. I imagined the crowds that had gathered to begin celebrating Passover. It would have been an exciting time! When they heard Jesus was coming, they welcomed Him with honor and praise laying down palm branches along the path. They shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives. There the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God with joy. In loud voices they praised Him for all the miracles they had seen. They shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Luke 19:37-38)

Palm branches were often used to celebrate victory and to honor royalty. The people in the crowd had either heard about or seen Jesus perform many miracles. He was quite the celebrity! But their understanding of His purpose was mistaken. They assumed He was going to overthrow the government and save them from oppression. (He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Isaiah 2:4) He had come to save them from oppression, but not in the way they had hoped. He was their to rescue their souls. (For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10)

There was another group of people who were not so thrilled to see Jesus. The Pharisees were threatened by His popularity, because they may lose their power and authority to Him. (Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” John 11:47-48) It’s not surprising they tried to keep Jesus from taking over their position.

But, Jesus was not interested in either of these positions. He didn’t want to overthrow the government nor become the head of the Jewish Council. He did not come as a conquerer but as a peacemaker. This is why He purposely rode on a donkey as a symbol of peace. Donkeys are humble creatures. Entering into the city on a lowly donkey instead of a great steed made a statement that He was not there to stir up a war. He was coming in peace. (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. Zechariah 9:9)

For three years Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God and obedience to God’s Word. Remember what the angels told the shepherds when Jesus was born? (And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:10-14) He came with a message of peace and good will to all men. He came to show us how to live. He came to save us when He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead as our Living Savior. Now that truly is something to celebrate! During Holy Week, let us focus on Christ’s many characteristics: a loving, compassionate, just, merciful, faithful, peacemaking Savior. Celebrate Him, singing, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Lord, just as You came to bring life to the lost, may my words and actions bring life to those around me. As I focus on Your traits throughout Holy Week, give me opportunities to live them out in my encounters with others. Amen