The triumphal entry into Jerusalem begins the final week before His crucifixion and resurrection. Sometimes it is referred to as the “Passion Week.” The word “passion” is derived from a Latin word meaning “suffering.”
The significance of this week in the life of Jesus is seen by the percentage of the Gospel accounts that are related to these seven days… Well over 1/4 of the Gospel accounts pertain to these seven specific days. The “Triumphal Entry” is found in each of the Gospel accounts (see Mk. 11:1-11; Lk. 19:29-44; Jn. 12:12-19).
We can make the deduction that Matthew 17 is on a Sunday morning, the first day of the week. Jesus has arrived just outside of Jerusalem, six days in advance of the Passover Feast (see Jn. 12:1). It has been estimated that there may have been over two million Jews assembled in and around Jerusalem. Certainly, there were masses of Jews pouring into Jerusalem.
You may recall that up to this point in the Gospel of Matthew (and the other accounts), Jesus had actually sought to quiet His identity on several occasions, mainly because this would hasten His death before the time, and hinder His ability to accomplish the will of the Father and fulfill the prophecies made concerning Him (see Mt. 12:16; 16:20; 17:9). But now there is no longer any need for secrecy because His time had come. The “Triumphal Entry” is an ironic beginning to the week of suffering of our Lord.
Read Matthew 21:1-11 and then note a couple of significant points and applications.
- First, notice the prophecy involved in this account. Jesus sends two unnamed disciples into town to secure for Him transportation into Jerusalem. Zechariah 9:9 had foretold of the coming king coming mounted on a donkey (see verse 5). Zion is a reference to Jerusalem. This prophecy is fulfilled precisely as Jesus stated to the disciples. Although it is possible that Jesus had made this arrangement ahead of time for His transport (perhaps with a disciple of His, since He is recognized as “The Lord” – v. 3), this takes nothing away from the prophecy being fulfilled. The prophecy was made thousands of years earlier, and if Jesus would have been killed one week earlier, it would have been left unfulfilled!
We have every reason to trust every Word of Jesus and Scripture! Proverbs 30:5-6 says, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.”
- Secondly, let’s consider the reception of Jesus as He comes riding on a donkey, specifically, a colt (see Mk. 11:5-7). Before we get into the amazing reception that Jesus receives, perhaps we should note that before His arrival, when He can see Jerusalem at a distance, the Savior mourns and wails over the city and the inhabitants (see Lk. 19). Luke goes on to detail the coming destruction of the great city that would occur in A.D. 70. But as Jesus trod that road toward Jerusalem, the crowds met Him and “laid down the red carpet” for Him so to speak. They welcomed Him into Jerusalem as a great king! In fact, notice some of the things they shouted concerning Him:
(1) “‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” By crying out: “Hosanna,” they were crying for Him to save them. But they were not crying out for a spiritual salvation, but a physical salvation, from the Romans. The expression “Son of David” demonstrates a belief (at least to a degree) of His Messiahship. But the Jews saw the Messiah as a political savior rather and than a spiritual one.
(2) Upon His entry into Jerusalem, when some asked about the identity of Christ, crowds of people responded saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee” (v. 11). Truly, the crowds knew many things concerning the Messiah, but clearly they had some serious misunderstandings.
As the “Passion Week” continues, one can only imagine how many of these Jews began to slowly realize that Jesus wasn’t who they envisioned Him to be. He was not a great military man. He was quiet. He was humble. He was weak (in their eyes). Many of those who shouted His praises as He entered into Jerusalem were surely amongst those who chanted, “Let him be crucified,” when He stood before Pilate (see Mt. 27:22-23).
What a powerful testament to how important it is to rightly understand Jesus and the nature of His kingdom! Jesus is the perfect Savior! He died to set us free from the bondage of our sin (see Rom. 6:18).
How do we make certain that we don’t change Christ into our own image? Knowledge and humility will go a long way. And humility enables us to grow in true understanding. Pride and ego often blind one to the reality. So we need to be sure to get off our “high-horse,” and mount our hearts with genuine humility, desiring only to know and live the truth of Jesus. This is vital to our own triumphant entry into His eternal kingdom.
Daren Schroeder
