Jesus’ Triumphant Entry
Matthew 21:1-12
Matthew 21-28 happened within 6 days. John said Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before Passover, Saturday evening
before the passion week. Jericho to Ephraim to Bethany until Monday when he entered Jerusalem. Then he may have
gone back and forth between Bethany and Jerusalem during the week. The population of Jerusalem swelled to several
times the normal number of people during Passover. It was chaotic. So, Jesus and the disciples go to Passover.
1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus
sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied
there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord
needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the
people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’” 6
The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over
the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches
from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him
were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in
highest heaven! 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 And the
crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Spoiler alert: Triumphant entry is a political maneuver. Empire vs. Shalom
Context: We often re-enact. Jesus on a donkey – wave palm branches. Celebrating Jesus, but we will see . . .
It was Passover, Jesus may have entered on lamb selection day through the sheep gate. Families choose their lamb to
sacrifice.
Tension is high. Tensest area that Romans had to control. Jews were stubborn, stiff-necked and naïve. Herod the Great
was great because he could control these people. Rome was big – from Spain to northern Africa at some point. Isreal was
crossroads of the earth. North – Phillip Central – Herod Antipus South – Archelaus. Arch only lasted two years,
couldn’t control things so Rome went with their bulldog, Pontious Pilot. He knew how to stand his ground. Pilot did not
live in Jerusalem, he lived in Ceasarea. Ceasarea Maritime. Herod built it for Ceasar. Built a harbor. To this day we
don’t know how he poured underwater concrete to build the harbor. This is where the Roman rulers would stay, in that
palace.
Passover, especially tense, over 1million Jews would gather in the city to celebrate a feast to remind them of their
deliverance from the world’s greatest superpower (Egypt.) The last thing Rome wanted to do was let this group of people
get all fired up and start a revolt. Jews remember walking out of Egypt.
Pilot will come down the coastal road then turn toward Jerusalem, so he would enter from the west. With a show of force
– soldiers, banners, heralds, pronouncements, and Pilot, riding on a white stallion which represents military conquest.
Could have heard the news from miles away. The message – don’t try anything or Rome will crush you. Pilot would stay
at Herod’s palace in Jerusalem until things die down, then go back to Caesarea.
The same week, maybe the same day, maybe at the same time, a humble Jewish rabbi rides into Jerusalem from the east
with his entourage – a bunch of ragtag disciples. Galileans, practically foreigners. This is the setting for this story. Pilot –
soldiers and banners making a huge statement of force. From the east, a dirty, sweaty rabbi, riding on a donkey with his
ragtag bunch.
Kingdoms colliding. Pilot on his stallion, Jesus on his donkey. Pilot with his soldiers. Jesus with his followers. Pilot
instilling fear – Jesus announcing favor. Pilot with his chaos – Jesus with his order. Pilot with his empire – Jesus with his
shalom (peace.) A narrative of empires. This does not go unnoticed by the Jewish people.
1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus
sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied
there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord
needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the
people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’” 6
The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over
the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches
from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him
were shouting, “Praise God (Hosanna) for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven! 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.
11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
People on the east side of Jerusalem see this, it does not go unnoticed.
When Jesus gets on the donkey the people know the symbolism. Jesus, you’re quoting Zechariah. What Zechariah says
about the Lord ruling the earth:
Zechariah 14:3-5 3 Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. 4 On that day
his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide
valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south. 5 You will flee
through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King
Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.
We get it! We’re ready! Let the revolution begin, we know how Zechariah ends, with victory! Quote from Psalm 118
Psalms 118 25Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. 26 Bless the one who comes in the name
of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.
John tells us the branches were Palm fronds. At some point these were declared illegal because they were associated with
the Zealots (not sure when) to wave one in public gets you crucified. But these Jews are ready for revolution. To say it
another way, they come to Passover “packing!” Packing palm frond heat! Jesus’ response
– let’s go to Luke 19:36-44
Luke 19:36-44 36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37When he reached
the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked
along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the
Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher,
rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would
burst into cheers!” 41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish
today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.
43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.
44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place,
because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
So, what was Jesus’ response? He wept. Because ….
Zech 9:9-10 9 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—riding on a donkey’s colt. 10 I will remove the battle
chariots from Israel and the warhorses from Jerusalem. I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will
bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
He wept because he brings peace. Taking away the battle chariots. Taking away the war horses. Taking away the
violence. But he knows that’s not what’s going to happen at that this time.
But they want violence – and Jesus thinks – you just don’t get it.
So, today we sing Hosanna, and we wave our palm fronds BUT there’s a question, the question:
Which kingdom do I really want?
I say I want the kingdom of God, but I’m not sure I want to pay the price.
I say I want forgiveness, but I often find myself on the side of the road, clutching my palm frond, shouting for a revolution
that comes with wanting my kind of power.
We must look inward. Do we want things our way, for our power, our influence, our protection – our Kingdom, or
do we want to live in God’s kingdom?
Jesus comes to bring peace and reconciliation. So, as he’s tearfully riding into his death, he looks to the side of the road
and looks you and me in the eye and asks, which kingdom do you want? Which kingdom are you building?
Put another way – let’s think about empire vs shalom, God’s peace, his kingdom. I’m a patriot. I love America, but where
is my ultimate allegiance? Where is my ultimate hope? Which empire?
Maybe this will help our decision when we look ahead to how the story ends.
Revelation 19:11-16, 21
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges
fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was
written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of
God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth
came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of
God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings
and Lord of all lords.
21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the
vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.
Again, whose kingdom are you living in? Living for? This is all going to end – and we know the ending. But we have
the choice for ourselves.