“The King’s Entrance”                                       

Everybody loves a parade, from the most simple to the most elaborate. It can be a Celebration of Victory, Advertisement or other event. When a sports team wins a national championship, the home town often has a parade through the city, with players on float. The fourth of July is commemorated with parades. On Thanksgiving, Macy's Department Store sponsors a parade and January 1, there is the Rose Parade.  All have both a commercial as well as a National Holiday reason for the parades.

             Jesus planned his entry into Jerusalem as a Deliberate and Dramatic Claim that he was the Messiah, the promised one.  (Read Mt. 21:1-11)

            Jesus had stopped people who wanted to call him Messiah.  It is not yet time for the Son of Man to be glorified, he said.

            This triumphal procession finally allowed his followers to express their pent-up excitement.  Word traveled through those who had come to Jerusalem as Pilgrims, like wildfire:  Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead (Read John 11:1-46) and restored sight to the blind. (of which we read last week). Is he the Messiah? 

                                  

What do you know about this passage of Scripture? We commemorate this event on Palm Sunday.  This year it is on April 2, this coming Sunday.  

Hosanna to the Son of David! (“Save Us!) – was associated with a Military Parade. The crowd received Jesus as a King.  Jesus boldly rode in as King of Peace and the crowd joyfully joined him.  

1.     Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly because he knew what he would face that week.

2.     Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly because he knew what others saw as defeat would be victory.

3.     Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly as a model for our lives.

We say, Without the Cross, there would be no resurrection.  The Eastern Orthodox say: Without the resurrection there would be no cross. (Think about that statement. Repeat it aloud.)

What did Jesus do and say that: Dramatically claimed he was the Messiah? “God’s Anointed King.” The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem was predicted 500 years earlier:  Rejoice, O people of Zion!  Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!  Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey's colt.  (Zechariah 9:9)

Jesus sent two disciples to get a colt with the password:  The Lord needs them now. He chose a colt rather than a horse, because a horse was associated with military victory.  Jesus came with a message of peace. He chose a colt on which no one had ever ridden.  God had instructed that any animal used for anything Sacred, such as carrying the ark of the covenant, in which the Law was kept, would not have been used for work. (I Samuel 6:7)

                                                              

Jesus demonstrated he was Lord of the Universe when he rode the unbroken colt. I learned in Colombia, South America, in the Sinu region, where my wife, Eugenia, grew up and were donkeys and burros are used for transportation, an important lesson. The colt would go nowhere without the mother.  Thus, Matthew indicates that when Jesus mounted the colt, the donkey was along side of it.  Rarely, are two animals depicted in painting of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.  

Jesus wanted to change perceptions and expectations. Garments placed on the colt rather than a saddle. Jesus did not come as a warring king on a horse, but as gentle and peaceful King on a colt.

Garments were placed on the ground by those watching the procession.  We use red carpets to honor dignitaries. They used their own cloaks and leafy branches to form a carpet. The Gospel of John says:  A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. (John 12:12-13) Jerusalem is at an elevation where palm trees don't grow.  It was the custom of pilgrims to bring or buy palm branches to be used as temporary shellers in which to live while in Jerusalem.  If that is so, they took that which was their shelter and placed it on the ground in honor of the Messiah.  

Psalm 118:25-26 , was a "Psalm of Assent," sung by pilgrims as they approached the Temple in Jerusalem.  Oh Lord, save us; grant us success. From the Temple pilgrims heard:  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  From the house of the Lord we bless you. (Psalm 118:6)

The Gospel of Luke records a poignant moment As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.  He said, "If you, even you, had known on this day what would bring peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes...because you did not recognize the time of God's Coming. (Lk. 19:41-44) 

Three things which will help us live Triumphantly in God’s Grace are:

1.      Jesus is Lord, not just over nature but every area of life.

2.      Jesus radically changed the image of the Messiah.  The Jews were expecting a military conqueror that would overthrow the Roman Power.  

3.   He was the King of peace!  Jesus came as Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father...(Isaiah 9:6) Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem because he knew that despite appearances, he would end the week victoriously.

Jesus showed courage extending his last appeal of love.  Hosanna!

Read Matthew 21:12-17.  This is one of the reasons, Jesus was arrested, tried and turned over to the Gentiles (Roman Government), scourged (beaten) and condemned to death on a Roman cross.  Remember, Jesus had told his disciples, three times, that these things would occur when he arrived in Jerusalem. What did they forget would happen?

This coming week I encourage you read a portion of the next chapters, in Matthew, each day.  Notice how Jesus openly taught in the Temple area. On Thursday read:  Matthew 26.  What do we do, as a result of this event? Friday read: Matthew 27. Why do you think this Day is called "Good Friday?"

I have decided to write two more blogs this week one for Good Friday entitled:  "It Is Finished" and another one for Easter entitled: "Resurrection Power."  

Remember, Jesus entered Jerusalem Triumphantly because he knew, that despite appearances, he would end the week victoriously!  

What did the disciples forget?  Why do we end this coming week in Celebration?  On Sunday read:  Matthew 28:1-15

During Lent did you follow Jesus to Jerusalem to complete the reason he came to this earth, in the form of a baby?  If so, "Who is Jesus?"  In your own words, state who Jesus is.  Is He Lord of Your Life?

I will post Good Friday's blog in the middle of the week and Easter's on Saturday.