The Triumphal Entry is recorded in the four Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to announce the entry of the Lamb of God, Jesus into Jerusalem through the Sheep Gate.
In the four Gospels of the triumphal entry stands at the beginning of the Passion week of Jesus Christ which recounts the series of events during the last week of Jesus’ ministry leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection. This week of His suffering, the week of the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God who bore the sins of mankind.
There are a few common elements of each of these accounts of the triumphal entry in each of the New Testament Gospels records Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem.
Mark 11:7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
Jesus approaches and enters Jerusalem, crowds and/or disciples spread cloaks and or branches on the road.
Mark 11:8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
First fact: They were looking a warrior type King to enter the city. Jesus entered on a Donkey colt extremely humble entrance, and he came through the Sheep gate.
The people shouted praises and blessings, enthusiastically embracing His arrival.
Matthew 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Second fact: The people shouted, enthusiastically for His crucifixion in less than one week after His arrival into Jerusalem.
Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Third fact: The Pharisees had contention for Jesus and his disciples. They were so filled with contempt they did not even understand the significance of Jesus entering in the Sheep Gate.
Fourth fact: It highlights the significance of this event in Jesus’ life and in salvation he was offering by laying down His life for the entire worlds sin.
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Sheep Gate: This was the Sheep gate through which the animals were brought into the city, including the temple sacrifices. These sacrifices were slain for the sins of the people. The Scripture says without the shedding of blood there can be no remission for sins. The only way to God is through sacrifice. This is the only gate of which it is recorded that it was sanctified, dedicated to God in a special way. This gate reminds us of Jesus Christ. He was the sacrifice for the entire world’s sins, and He entered into the city through the Sheep gate being lead to the slaughter by the evil with-in the heart of men and women yelling, Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
Nehemiah:
The prophet Nehemiah, by the grace of God, did what he could for God.
I love the story of Nehemiah and the people rebuilding the walls of their beloved homeland. This rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem has spiritual significance for us today!
Through this lens we can understand why Nehemiah “sat down and wept” when he heard: “the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire”. This stirred Nehemiah’s spiritual zeal for Jerusalem. He charged his fellow countrymen: “come let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach”. They rebuilt the walls in just 52 days.
We all have experienced sitting down and weeping over things breaking down, or things being burnt up in our lives. So, we can identify.
Nehemiah 1:3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
The story is an amazing reminder that we too can be “watchmen on the walls”, as we pray for the healing of our world and for the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth.
God calls us to pray, and trust Him fervently. Similarly, we are called to work hard doing good deeds, wherever God calls us to be protectors, rebuilders, and reconcilers, according to His will in our lives.
If not for Nehemiah, the Jewish landscape of Israel – so key to Jesus’ life and ministry – may have looked vastly different and without Nehemiah passion to work for the Lord in rebuilding of the walls we would not have preserved these precious gates of Jerusalem. They built the Sheep Gate first. Notice it was the priest that done the work.
Nehemiah 3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
Working together, walking together, protect one another, praying together- strong significant needs in our Christian’s lives.
All of the gates of Jerusalem have spiritual significance. There is Gospel in these Gates!
Here’s a more detailed look:
The Sheep Gate Rebuilding:
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They built between the upper room at the corner, as far as the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths, and the merchants made repairs. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. Working together!
The high priest Eliashib and his kinsmen took on the task of rebuilding the Sheep Gate, including setting up its doors, bolts, and bars. They worked on the door Jesus wants all to enter in order to obtain Salvation.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Location: North- often symbolizes God’s dwelling, eternal truths, and spiritual clarity. The Sheep Gate was located in the northern part of the city wall, near the Pool of Bethesda.-Healing.
Significance: The Sheep Gate was a crucial entrance where the sacrifice would enter.
The Sheep Gate was a crucial entrance to the city, and its reconstruction was part of a larger effort to restore Jerusalem after its destruction.
John’s Gospel: Shows us Healing from God above. We all need healing in our lives.
The Pool of Bethesda is referred to in John’s Gospel in an account of Jesus healing a paralyzed man at a pool of water in Jerusalem, described as being near the Sheep Gate and surrounded by five covered colonnades or porticoes.
Symbolic Meaning: A symbol of salvation and access to God.
By this gate the sheep or sacrifice were brought into the city in preparation for sacrifice. At the sheep gate we see work of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, “slain from the foundation of the world.” This is the foundation Stone upon which God builds His Salvation and gospel message. All God’s expectations, then, now and forever, are in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must begin at the beginning. Our journey starts at our belief in Jesus Christ. There is no other approach to God except Jesus Christ and the cross. The way of the cross leads us home. So, we start at the starting place realizing Jesus Christ entering the sheep gate: providing us salvation through faith in the shedding of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All are welcomed:
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
This is the gate through which every sinner must enter.
In describing the building of this gate, it says all–the priests, the princes, the common folks–were involved, indicating that salvation is the common need for all people. Everybody needs the access afforded by the sheep gate. The death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was for everyone.
Every human being who ever breathed the breath of life, who has ever lived on the face of this earth are a son or daughter of Adam and needs salvation. Christ Jesus provided salvation for all people when He died on Calvary’s cross. We should accept Jesus into our hearts. Amen!
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Everybody will be responsible for his/ her own lost condition, because if we have refused what Christ did for us, we will remain lost. The result is eternal hell. Practice, obedience is better than sacrifice.
Do you know my Jesus he Lamb of God who came to die for us?
Wouldn’t you like to meet Jesus, our Savior, the Lamb who was sacrificed for us?
Me and my family love my Jesus more each day!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Selah! Amen!
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