Triumphal Entry of Life

Sunday 9, Nisan A.D. 30 exactly 483 years after the decree of Artaxerxes, Jesus has His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Daniel 9:24-26)! This is his final week on earth. He has taught and nurtured his disciples for three years and now he has just a few days left. What is his mission this week? What would your mission be if you only had one week to live?

This final week of Jesus would be his most important...

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” ⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

⁵ “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold your King is coming to you,
Gentle, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

⁶ The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, ⁷ and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. ⁸ Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. ⁹ The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David;
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest!”

¹⁰ When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” ¹¹ And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

What a day this was! It was the beginning of Passover week and Jerusalem is filled with those coming to celebrate the biggest feast of the year. After three years of teaching and healing, Jesus proclaims Himself as the Messiah as he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling  the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.

 

The crowd responds by laying their coats on the ground, waving palm branches shouting calling Jesus "Son of David." All of this acknowledged Jesus as the King of the Jews! The word "hosanna" meaning "save now." They were receiving their Savior! All the city was "stirred"! I love that word, stirred, it means the people were moved, motivated, encouraged.

 

I ask you, has Jesus made a triumphal entry into your heart? He is the one that makes a way, we just have to be willing. Just as Jesus had already knew where the donkey would be tied up, he knows you, he knows your heart. He will ride into your heart as King, the One who saves now! But notice this, He doesn't force His way into your heart, he will come in "gentle." This word gentle means meek, or a condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness not in weakness but power (see also Mt 5:5; 1 Pet 3:4). It is a virtue born in strength and character. He comes gently but with power and strength. Just as he rides a donkey, a beast of burden, He will carry your burden!

 

His entry into our hearts bring praise (see Psalm 118) from our lips and our actions as we acknowledge Him King, Savior of our lives! Our hearts are stirred within us!

 

Keep reading this week in Matthew 21!