THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
Mar
21
Written by:
3/21/2010 12:00 AM
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
March 21, 2010
(Mat 21:1 NIV) As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, (Mat 21:2 NIV) saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. (Mat 21:3 NIV) If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." (Mat 21:4 NIV) This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: (Mat 21:5 NIV) "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" (Mat 21:6 NIV) The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. (Mat 21:7 NIV) They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. (Mat 21:8 NIV) A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (Mat 21:9 NIV) The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Mat 21:10 NIV) When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" (Mat 21:11 NIV) The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
There was a lot of excitement as Jesus approached Jerusalem. The crowds that went ahead of Jesus and the crowds that followed were praising Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. What the prophet Zechariah spoke over 480 year earlier was being fulfilled. Zec 9:9'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' By riding into Jerusalem on a donkey Jesus fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy and declared himself to be king. The crowds were shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" A few days later people would be shouting for Jesus to be crucified.
This event is recorded in all four gospels and is referred to as the Triumphal entry. There are two interesting events that are recorded in Gospel of Luke as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The first concerned some of the Pharisees that were in the crowd. They told Jesus to rebuke his disciples. They did not like to see the disciples praising Jesus. The Pharisees were very likely jealous. They did not want anyone challenging their power and authority. Jesus gave an interesting answer. (Luke 19:40 NIV) "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." There was no need for the stones to cry out as Jesus did not rebuke his disciples.
A second interesting even was a moment of sadness recorded in Luke about the Triumphal entry. (Luke 19:41 NIV) As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (Luke 19:42 NIV) and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. (Luke 19:43 NIV) The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. (Luke 19:44 NIV) They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
On two of the trips I took to Israel we walked down the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem as Jesus did on the day of the triumphal entry. There is a church that is built in the place where Jesus may have wept over Jerusalem. Jesus was sad because the people did not recognize the time of God`s coming to the people. He spoke of the terrible destruction that he knew was going to come to Jerusalem and the temple. Destruction was coming because the people of Israel had turned away from God.
On my first trip to Japan we stayed in the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo. Very early on our first mourning in the hotel I looked out over Tokyo as I wanted to see Mt. Fuji. I was told on a clear day you could see Mt. Fuji early in the morning. I saw Mt. Fuji and was very happy. Then I began to look out over Tokyo. Tokyo looked mostly flat as the building were not very tall except in the Shinjuku area we were in, Ikebukuro and several other areas. Suddenly I began to think in Tokyo less than one 1% of the people were Christian and had the hope of eternal life. I became very sad and began to weep. Then I thought what it must have been like for Jesus to weep over Jerusalem.
We have been in Japan almost 21 years. During that time we have had many English students. We have had the opportunity to tell many of the students about Jesus. Some of the students have become Christians. However, most have not. I believe it is not important that the students remember us. We have been sent to Japan as missionaries to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have great concern for the people that reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The most important thing we can do in this life is believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For those that do not believe their fate will be the same as those that rejected the Gospel when Jesus walked on the earth.
Jesus made the triumphal entry into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives almost 2000 years ago. The next time Jesus comes to the Mount of Olives will be much different. He will come as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. (Zec 14:4 NIV) On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. All the nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. However, in one day all those nations will be destroyed. (Zec 14:9 NIV) The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.