Jesus' Triumphal Entry

Leading up to the celebration of Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Christ, we looked at Jesus’ triumphal entry from Mark, chapter 11.

Your conclusions about these events - and who Jesus is and what he was up to – are more important than any other decision you make, or ideology you adopt, or philosophy you embrace. One author wrote:

If there is only one God who is eternal, all-powerful, all-good, all-loving, all-knowing, and fully just; and He created us in His image, we would be completely fulfilled if we related to Him the way He wants us to, in harmony with His will. As the creator from concept to production line, he would know the most about the perfect purpose of his creations…

..No one else could compete with him regarding his creations' functions or destiny. If He were to say one's destiny is determined by how many hot peppers he can consume, no one could bring greater authority or knowledge to dispute him. If He were to say that one's destiny is determined by how he responds to His loving sacrifice of His Son on behalf of all who are separated by sin from God, He could not be disputed.

What was the background to Jesus’ triumphal entry? It was the week before Passover, Jerusalem was swollen with pilgrims, Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead, the Pharisees planned to kill the both of them, and the Romans were on edge. So, the atmosphere as Jesus rode into Jerusalem was electric.

Concerning this, Zechariah 9:9 prophesied:

Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your king is coming to you: he is legitimate and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey – on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey.

And II Kings 9:13 (of Jehu)

Each of them quickly took off his cloak and they spread them out at Jehu’s feet on the steps. The trumpet was blown and they shouted, “Jehu is king!”

The anticipation of this day is expressed in Psalm 118:25, where we read:

“Please Lord, deliver! Please Lord, grant us success!”

In the triumphal entry we see that Jesus is no victim, but is in absolute control, even to the detail of sending his disciples to a place where they would find the donkey he would ride into Jerusalem. As we see from Scripture, this day was long anticipated, Jesus is Messiah and King, he receives their praise, yet nobody understood what was really happening – that Jesus came as a humble servant, ready to die, while the people praise him with wrong expectations.

What do we take away from this event? Jesus saves. He is the long-awaited Messiah; He is not what the people expect (even though Scripture was clear), and His purposeful entry was so that he might die and save us from our sins. Jesus is king. There are so many examples of kings in their history, our ours; ones that do not rule justly, ones that are corrupt, but Jesus is truly the king who deserves the applause, admiration, and praise of his people. Jesus loves the Father, and he loves you. As Jesus knowingly went to his death on the cross, he did so because of his love for the Father – “not my will, but Yours be done.” He was about doing the will of the Father, and his sacrificial death was out of love for His Father – to glorify His holiness and justice and mercy – and his death was to lovingly deliver us from the wrath we deserve. This willing sacrifice demands, and is deserving of our worship. This same Jesus who was in absolute control of the events surrounding this triumphal entry, and his eventual death on the cross, is the same Jesus who is in control of the events of your life. He has a plan and purpose for all who belong to him, and knowing that he is in control brings us great comfort and hope.

Jesus came as a humble servant, on his way to die, but his real triumphal entry is yet to come. He is coming again, and this time it will be on a war-horse instead of a donkey, and as a might king, instead of a humble servant.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” - Revelation 19:11-16