It is the beginning of Holy Week  (referring to Palm Sunday through Easter). A week where all Christians and believers should seek to draw closer to our Lord Jesus Christ and our God. The triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem is of vital significance in understanding the mission of Jesus. Palm Sunday refers to the Sunday before Jesus was crucified. The fact palm branches were placed before Him, on the road as He entered, signifies, what we would call, the red-carpet treatment, usually given to royalty, dignitaries, and leaders. So, we call this day “Palm Sunday.” The Jewish people were looking for, what we would call a Knight in Shining Armor or a King to come and end the Roman rule and reign. They were looking for Jesus to end up ruling as Messiah and freeing them from this Roman occupation. Instead, they see a lowly Jesus riding on a donkey. As we look at the way Jesus entered Jerusalem, we can see that he had entered through the Sheepgate. This was the gate where all the sacrifices (all the offerings animals) would enter that were to arrive at the temple area for the sacrificial ceremonies. He entered humbly on a colt donkey. Imagine it, He was like a lamb being lead to his slaughter. The sacrifice for the entire world’s sin. Past, present, and future sin. Our slide clearly shows how Jesus entered Jerusalem and how close the Sheepgate was to the temple. Matthew says,

Matthew 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,  

Matthew 21:2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

Matthew 21:3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

We can see that Jesus knew beforehand that these animals would be there. Showing us, foreknowledge Jesus had. This is because Jesus is the Son of God, who knows all things. Jesus also sent two disciples to get them for him and gave instruction to tell anyone who may inquire of you, tell them “The Lord hath need of them.”  Furthermore, judging by Jesus’ words, we can see that He knew the owner of these animals, and that the owner sent them in accordance with His instructions.,

Matthew 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying.

The Pharisees and Sadducee’s should have remembered that this was written in two books of the Old Testament Isaiah and Zechariah. Both foretold the Jewish people, and they were forewarned by these profits. Matthew reminds us of this here.

Matthew 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew ties the account closely to Zechariah’s prophesy)

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Zechariah prophesied this. We know that there was a period of some four hundred years between Old Testament and New Testament writings. Zechariah prophet and priest one of the last two prophets in Old Testament. He encouraged   the remnant that was left in Jerusalem during the Babylon captivity to rebuild the temple. Zechariah prophesied (foretold) The triumphal entry of Jesus, His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, and His crucifixion in 500 B.C. His crucifixion is the reason why He came and took on the form of man. Jesus said, “I am come to do the will of my Father.” “I have been sent by my Father.”  “I came to seek and save that which was lost.”  His crucifixion is what occurs on Good Friday. This was God the Fathers plan for our Salvation. Also we can see with the ass and the young colt,  a transition Old Testament to the New Testament or even a  transition from  Old covenant to New covenant, and the older ass would carry the load of Jesus most of the way to Jerusalem then Jesus would transition to the young colt for the entry into the city.  Lots of things can be gather by this event. We also see how obedient Jesus was to God the Father even unto death.

 Matthew 21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

 Matthew 21:7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

Matthew 21: 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

There was a large crowd that applauded Him, spreading the road with their garments and with palm branches. They acknowledged Him as the son of David. This triumphal entry is vital significance in understanding the messianic mission of Jesus. Prior to this moment, Jesus had refused to allow any public acknowledgement of His being the Messiah now he allowed it. By Jesus conducting His ministry outside Jerusalem, He had avoided further conflict with the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducee’s the religious leaders of that day. The Pharisees and Sadducee’s strong opponents of Jesus understood what these strong messianic implications of the manner of His entry into Jerusalem. How it would diminish their control over the Jewish people.

Jesus riding upon the colt, the garments and palm branches in the road, and the shouts of the multitude—all of these pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. When He was urged to quiet the people, Jesus replied, “If they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!” We are speak of the meaning behind why we must not withhold praise and glory from God.

Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Jesus will not be mocked, nor denied His rightful glory that is due even if He was not the knight riding on a white horse in shining armor. Our Jesus is worthy to be praised!  Because He is the only begotten Son—the One to whom the glory rightfully belongs and must return to God. Therefore, when we sing, worship and praise Him, we will sing, worship, and praise in spirit and in truth. He is worthy of our praise if we fail to praise and worship Jesus our Lord and Savior this verse tells us that the rocks will cry out immediately. Have you ever been in an earthquake that is the rocks & stones moving underneath you? We should always praise Jesus when we enter His house. Please do not fail to praise our Lord and Savior Jesus.  Amen!

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.

Meditate on Mark 10:46-52 on Good Friday. Remember before Jesus and His disciples arrived at Bethphage, they had left Jericho and blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging, yelled out to Jesus, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me” “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me”. Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” And immediately Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus in the way. We need to be like this and immediately turn to Jesus to repent and confess without delay.

These multitudes that are yelling “Hosanna, Hosanna, to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” In fact, in less than seven days’ time this same crowd will be yelling Crucify Him, Crucify Him! How quickly we forget the things God desires that we remember…

This entire event was an extremely humbling for Jesus and the Jewish people, those that were looking for Him to take His rightful place on the throne of David would later be devastated at the results of the events of the week. An illegal trial, an unjust verdict, and wrongful punishment. Which would proceed the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We need to be like blind Bartimaeus and say “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” We need to confess and repent and become obedient followers of Jesus.

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.

Amen.