Triumphal Entry – Matthew 21:1-11

What would you have felt if you had been a resident of Jerusalem and this man Jesus came riding through the street on a donkey? Would you have joined the throng who shouted Hosanna? Would you have been one asking, “Who is this?” Or could you have explained accurately just who this was and why he was doing it?

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”   

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1-11 ESV)

Jesus has been traveling from Jericho up to Jerusalem and as he comes over the Mount of Olives to Bethphage on the western slope he is able to see the temple area and the whole city.  He has already prepared to enter the city on a colt of a donkey so he sends his disciples to get the animals, saying “the Lord needs them” should anyone question.  Matthew sees this as a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 which speaks of the King of Israel, Israel’s Messiah, coming to defeat her enemies once and for all and establish her righteousness, yet coming humbly on a foal of a donkey.  Jesus seems to be purposely enacting this event, wanting to offer himself to Jerusalem as her Messiah if she will receive him.

And in a superficial way she does, with crowds placing their cloaks and palm branches on the road before him and shouting “Hosanna” (“O save”) and acknowledging him as David’s son and therefore righteous heir to the throne.  When people ask for an explanation people in the crowd say it is the prophet Jesus.  This is not as specific as it should be.  Moses described the Messiah as a prophet like him, but the crowds don’t state with any assurance that this is him.  Perhaps they are waiting to see if he is genuine or not, despite the ample evidence he has given that he is the Messiah.

This is the way of it still in this era of God’s dealing with the world.  Jesus does not force himself on the will of a person, making them believe, but comes humbly through us (Yes, we’re the colt of the donkey in that sense), offering himself to whomever will receive him.  Those who make a superficial commitment cannot be his disciples, but only those who genuinely trust in him and follow him.

Would you provide the triumphal entry of Jesus for someone else?