Listen to this podcast on Sunday afternoon
Greetings again from Bruce,
As I said on Saturday, I am putting together a devotional podcast that takes a daily walk through Jesus’ “Passion Week.” Yesterday we started with the anointing of Jesus by Mary, the sister of Lazarus. If you didn’t listen to that one, you may want to do so before continuing with today’s message. Today we are looking at a Harmony of the Gospel story of the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Just to let you know how I put this together, I took the Harmony of the Gospels out of the notes in my MacArthur Study Bible, and wove the Scriptures together in the order that MacArthur placed the stories.
Now since each of the gospels witnesses have different details about the narrative, I had to take some license in deciding how phrases and events should intermingle. For example, I picture the Triumphal entry taking place in the afternoon of the Sunday, one week before Jesus resurrection. The accounts of the Triumphal entry don’t indicate when on Sunday this happened, but the events end in the evening, so I imagine them starting in the afternoon. I’m not going to say that I always got the order right, but I tried to remain faithful to preserve the words and sense of the gospel narratives. I hope that you are as blessed hearing it as I was in studying it.
Let’s proceed with the Sunday afternoon story of Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday Spring of 30 A.D. the 10th of Nisan (our March/April)
We start the story of the Triumphal entry by taking you back in time to the kingdom of Babylon, and to a Jewish prophet in exile. That prophet’s name was Daniel. And God used Daniel in a very special way. God revealed to Daniel, and Daniel wrote down prophecies of events that would happen in the world’s near future, in the Messianic time, and far into the distant future. And I’m so glad that God revealed the future in that way.
Because some of Daniel’s prophecies about the distant future haven’t happened yet. But I have confidence that they will. Do you know why? Because he was given predictions that did come true. God told him about every kingdom that would follow the Babylonian one. Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. His prophecies of the world’s near future span 600 years. And they all came true.
But let me tell you about one Messianic prophecy in particular. And this prophecy literally pinpoints the very day when Jesus would ride into Jerusalem and be hailed as Israel’s king and Messiah. In Daniel chapter 9, we have what is commonly referred to as the 70 weeks prophecy;
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:
Now we’re not going to go into great detail here about this, but here’s the long and short of it.
It was revealed to Daniel that two major events were going to happen. First, there was going to be a decree “to restore and build Jerusalem.” In Daniel’s day, Jerusalem and the temple of God had been destroyed by the invading Babylonian army. Daniel himself had been taken captive to Babylon in 605 B.C.
So, there’s going to be a decree to restore the city. Now, did that happen? Yes, years later, (445 B.C.) under the Persian rule of the world, King Artaxerxes, he gave the command to rebuild the city. You can find a record of that event in Nehemiah chapter 2.
So what is the second event that Daniel predicted? He predicted the coming of the promised Jewish Messiah. Throughout the Old Testament, God had been promising Israel a Savior, An Eternal King, A Healer, A Deliverer. And now Daniel is told that not only will He come, but I’m going to tell you exactly when He will come. And he is told that the Messiah will be “cut off.” Which is another way of saying that the Messiah will be killed.
That prediction alone is astounding, considering what we know happened to Jesus.
But Look at what Daniel is told.
“from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks”…. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself”
So let’s do the math here. The commandment to restore Jerusalem happened in 445 B.C. He says that it will be 7 weeks plus 62 weeks until the Messiah is cut off, or killed. So 69 weeks. Well it obviously was just 62 weeks from 445 B.C. to 30 A.D. But in Daniel’s prophecy the word for “week” is just the number 7. So there are to be 69 “sevens” from 445 B.C. to Messiah the Prince. We know the sevens aren’t days, weeks, or months, because that is too short of a time. But what if he’s talking about years? Each 7 would be 7 years, for a total of, 69 x 7 = 483 years.
So if that is what God was telling Daniel, then He was saying that from 445 B.C. to the coming of Messiah, there would be 483 years. Well if you do the math, 483 years from 445 B.C. brings us to 30 A.D. , and more precisely the month of Nisan, in 30 A.D.
Do you know what happened on the 9th of Nisan, in 30 A.D.? Jesus rode a donkey’s colt into Jerusalem, with thousands of people swarming around Him saying, Hosanna; Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Jesus came at exactly the right time… but what’s interesting about it is, that nobody was counting up the days from this prophecy. Nobody was saying, “Okay, today’s the day that Messiah the prince is supposed to show up.” They did show up to wave palm branches at Jesus, but not because of the fulfillment of this prophecy, you see, they didn’t understand this prophecy. They expected a messiah, a Savior to overthrow the Romans rule of their country, not a Savior to overthrow sins rule in their hearts. They wanted a soldier, not a sacrifice. They didn’t understand how or why their Messiah should be “cut off” or die, so they weren’t looking for the fulfillment of this prophecy.
And one week later, He was cut off, killed, crucified, but as the prophecy put it, He was killed, not for Himself. He wasn’t crucified for any guilt of His own, but He was killed as a substitute for you and me.
That’s how we introduce the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It was a long time coming. And it was in the foreordained plan of God.
Mark 11:1 begins the story this way
And when they (Jesus and His disciples) came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
I told you last time that Jesus had a destined appointment with death in Jerusalem. He and His disciples ate supper on Saturday evening in Bethany, 2 miles from Jerusalem, with Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Mary had anointed Jesus feet with very expensive oil as an expression of her love for Him as her Lord, and grief that He was going to the cross.
It’s likely that Jesus and His disciples spent the night in their home.
We’re not told all the details of what they did the next day, but after their goodbyes, they start the short journey up the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. On the way was a small town named Bethphage. When they arrive at Bethphage, Jesus selects two of His disciples for an errand.
Continuing…
2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
Now how did Jesus know about this particular animal being in this particular place? Well frankly, Scripture says that Jesus was God in flesh, so it would be no challenge to know where every colt in the whole world was at that moment. But it’s probable that the owner of this particular colt was a follower of Jesus, or at least sympathetic to Jesus’ commands, or else he wouldn’t have given permission to take him.
Notice, as well that this colt had never been ridden. This to indicates that Jesus is in complete control of the situation, even the animals submit to His Divine will. Jesus further instructs His disciples…
3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
4 And they (the 2 disciples) went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
The gospel of Matthew indicates that there were two animals, a donkey and her foal.
Now we continue the story with a passage in…
John 12
John indicates that Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. John then quotes the passage out of Zechariah 9:9,
Zechariah 9:9 King James Version (KJV)
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.
So, other than fulfilling prophecy, why did Jesus ride a donkey into Jerusalem. Well tradition tells us that the people of a town knew if a king came to town, riding on a horse, his intentions were for war against that city. But if he rode in on a donkey, he was coming in peace. He was identifying with the common people. He was coming to do good and to offer grace.
John goes on to say…
16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
So Jesus’ disciples are alongside Him as He rides toward Jerusalem, and there were others as well…
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
So, as He went, an entourage was going along with Him. All along the way, word went out that this miracle worker, this one who raised a man from the dead, who had been dead for 4 days, was riding toward Jerusalem, so a crowd started to swell.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
12 On that next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him,
Somebody ran ahead to Jerusalem, and began shouting that Jesus was coming. Thousands of pilgrims had been coming to the city to celebrate Passover. They came from all over Israel, so many may have met Him, or heard of Him, during the 3 years He had traveled through the nation and performed miracles.
So they run out of the city to see Him. There’s a rush of excitement, because the hushed words of the people spoke of Jesus, wondering if He was the promised Savior and King that they had read about in their Scriptures.
In the flurry of that excitement, they begin cutting down date palm branches from the trees to lay as a carpet or wave before Him as He rode into town. It was their equivalent of a ticker tape parade, reserved for kings, dignitaries, and very important people.
Mark adds…
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Everybody is gathering to this makeshift parade route, and naturally some people knew who Jesus was, and others didn’t. So when someone didn’t know, they would ask their neighbor, “Who is this man?” and the neighbor might have a second hand, or even a first-hand account of the thousands of miracles that Jesus performed, or the incredible words that He spoke, or the indescribable love they felt in His presence. So everybody just begins shouting words of love and praise to Jesus as He rides by on the winding path to the eastern gate of Jerusalem.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Now, part of their words are just the bubbling up from joy surrounding the prospect that their Messiah was actually present. Others of their words came straight from Messianic Scriptures
Psalm 118:25-26 says…King James Version (KJV)
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
They are crying for Him to save them, now. We’re ready to be saved from Rome. You’ve got the power, now, with this crowd, you’ve got the people, so go ahead and vanquish the enemy.
It’s quite a request. And I think, if He had asked, this crowd would have followed Him to battle against the Roman army to liberate their land from its iron fisted tyranny.
And I’m not the only one who saw that…
John 12 tells us that the religious elite were also represented in that crowd.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
“you prevail nothing.” They had been conspiring for months to try and bring down Jesus popularity, His influence, His growing power with the people. But when they witness this crowd, and hear the crowd quoting Scripture in praise to Jesus, they say to each other, obviously we have failed miserably to bring this man down.
Others of them begin to be offended, not only that the crowd is applying Messianic prophecy to Jesus, but that He is receiving it, so they shout to Him over the throng…
Luke 19
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
And Jesus reply is…
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 is saying that this is the moment for praise to the Son of God, He will be praised, and if those who have voices don’t praise, God will cause the inanimate creation to praise Him.
We don’t know how long that 2 mile journey took. With that many people gathering, that much praise being lifted up, that many stories of Jesus to tell, this could have been a journey of multiple hours, and a gathering on the Mount, of hours more.
And as the evening wore on, and light began to wane, the pall of night overshadowed the city. It was time for Jesus and His company to go back to their lodging in Bethany. But before they go, Jesus turns to take a final look at Jerusalem.
Luke 19 says
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Why was He weeping? Because He knew what was coming, after the parade, in just one week, the same crowd would no longer shout Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, but rather “Crucify Him!”
And He wasn’t weeping for Himself, as a victim. But He was weeping for them, because their rejection of Him would lead to God’s judgment against the Jewish people, and the city of Jerusalem.
Luke says..
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
You cry out for a military Savior to bring victory and peace, but your real peace will come only if you repent and believe in your crucified Messiah.
Continuing, their judgment will come at the end of the very spear they wanted to overthrow.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
And their judgment did come. Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, in 30 A.D. and for 40 years, Jesus disciples continued, with miracle working power to proclaim in Jerusalem that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and that the Jewish people needed to repent and follow Jesus. But, most of them did not, would not, and they even hated and persecuted Jesus disciples as they had hated Him. And in 70 AD, Rome tired of Jewish insurrection and riots, and marched to Jerusalem, laid siege to the city, and eventually tore down its walls and temple. Ten thousands were killed by Rome. 97,000 were enslaved. All a testimony to judgment against a people who crucified their king.
The final word from Scripture around this narrative comes from Mark chapter 11
11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
What is the lesson from all of this today? That today is the day of salvation. You know some people have placed the blame for Jesus death on the Jewish people. And the majority of Jews in Jesus day, and the years after, did reject Him. In fact, some Jewish Rabbis tried to suppress the teaching of Daniel 9 in the synagogues, because the 70 weeks prophecy so clearly pointed to Jesus as their Messiah.
They pronounced the following curse “May the spirits of those who attempt to calculate the final time [of Maschiach’s coming] expire” (Sanhedrin 97B, quoted in chapter 12 of Hilchos Melachim from the Mishneh Torah of Rambam).
But it wasn’t just the Jews, or even the Romans who crucified Jesus. It was us. Isaiah 53 says
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
It wasn’t His own grief, sorrow, transgressions, iniquities, and chastisement that He was bearing, it was ours. We all put Jesus on the cross. The blame is ours.
But the forgiveness, and atonement is also ours, if we will believe, and surrender.
Let’s pray,
Lord thank you for this wonderful look back at your triumph. And we know that your triumph was not a group of thousands shouting Blessed is the King. Because they did not know what they were saying. Your triumph happened on the cross, and 3 days later at the resurrection. You left us a way to be redeemed if we will humbly and sincerely come to you saying, Please save me now from my sin. Make me new. And we pray this in the name of He who deserves our Hosannas, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen