Series Introduction:
In this study we will follow our Lord Jesus Christ for one week, the most important week since the human race began to keep time. Our study will begin with the Triumphant Entry and conclude with the unique Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I will seek to synchronize the four gospel accounts during the seven days we will follow the Lord. No one gospel tells the whole story. Each gospel has its own individual and dynamic point of view. The Holy Spirit has provided a wonderful variety of perspectives. Matthew viewed Jesus as King, Mark as a servant, Dr. Luke emphasizes His humanity and the beloved John shows us His deity. Along with harmonizing the four gospels, we will seek to arrange the details chronologically as we tell the story of this week. The narrative told in Matthew's gospel will be the primary text as we move from day to day.
Introduction
There is a difficult emotional dichotomy in the Triumphant Entry, and every commentary struggles with it. The first part is the mood of the people who greet Jesus with such jubilation. The second part of this dilemma is the mood of Jesus who in Dr. Luke's account is seen weeping, not for joy for a great sorrow has come over Him (Luke19:39-44). The crowd is happy, and the Lord is sad. Here is this "mother of all celebrations" and Jesus is rejoicing. No! He is filled with sadness. But why?
Outline:
1. The Preparations for His Royal Entry (Matthew 21:1-3,6,7)
2. The Prophecy Which Was Fulfilled (Matthew 21:4,5)
3. The Peoples Reaction (Matthew 21:8-11)
Palm Sunday - 10th Nisan 30 A.D.
Every year the church celebrates what is called Palm Sunday. It derives this designation from the people who threw palm branches on the road in front of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. On that day they gathered along the road shouting, "Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord." Excitement fills the air. These faithful followers of Jesus were proclaiming Him their king.
Dr. A.T. Robinson notes in his Harmony of the Gospels that on Friday afternoon, six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany to stay in the home of Lazarus (John 12:1). He would worship the Sabbath with them and then on Sunday would leave for Jerusalem." (Robertson, p. 152)
This is day one, 10 Nisan 30 A.D. a Sunday, the first day of the final week that we are examining. It is Palm Sunday.
1. The Preparations for His Royal Entry (Matthew 21:1-3).
1) And when they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, to 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) And if anyone says something to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them." (Matthew 21:1-3)
Jesus gave the disciples the instructions to go and find the animal that He would ride as He entered Jerusalem. The route he will take is only two miles. He hadn't traveled on animals before so why now? As we learn, our Heavenly Father chose the animal that His Son would ride into Jerusalem. The donkey was chosen for it best represented His mission. He has come to seek and save the lost and lay down His life for our sins. Jesus our Lord is the one and only sin-bearer. He bears the weight of our sins. Jesus, as an obedient Son, was following His Father's plan.
Alone In The Multitude
The troubling thing is how utterly alone Jesus is. In John‘s account he says "These things His disciples did not understand at first; but when Jesus was glorified [after the resurrection], then they remembered" (John 12:16). It was after Jesus' death and resurrection that they understood the events of this week. Why did they not comprehend the significance of this day? One answer is that the two advents of Christ were not clearly known, although found, in the Old Testament Scriptures. As will be seen from the text, the followers of Jesus who are lined up along the road to Jerusalem are proclaiming Jesus as King. They expect Him to seize the CROWN of Israel and throw out the Romans, but Jesus was on a mission that would lead Him to the CROSS. What the disciples and the crowd that followed the Lord thought and what Jesus was thinking explains why they are celebrating and He is so sad and all alone. They are throwing Him a party when the proper attitude would have been to fall on their knees in sackcloth and ashes, repent of their sins, and be filled with the deepest of gratitude for what He is about to accomplish, not puffed up, jubilant, and filled with revenge. Rome is about to get its due, but what about the wages of our sins! Who will pay for them?
The Absence Of Biblical Understanding
Unlike the crowd, the followers, and the disciples, our Lord Jesus Christ was full of truth (John 1:14). He understood the Word of God thoroughly. He is entering Jerusalem as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He understood the difference between riding a donkey or a great stallion. Who has ever heard of a warrior-king riding in a victorious promenade on a beast of burden; that is, an animal associated typically with servitude. A wild donkey is no comparison to a strong, stately, stallion. When Jesus comes in triumph, in the Second Advent, the picture given in Revelation 19 is that He is mounted upon a magnificent white steed, but this is the First Advent, and He is coming as a lamb to the slaughter. In fact, on the trip to Bethany Jesus informed His disciples:
Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes (He predicted His Jewish trials) and they will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him to the gentiles (Roman trials) and they will mock Him and spit upon Him, and scourge Him, and kill Him (His death on the cross) and three days later He will rise again (His resurrection)" (Mark 10:33,34).
So days before the events of this week, Jesus presented His followers with a broad outline of the week ahead. Did they not hear? Did they not believe in Him? The pressing question in this study will be why are they shocked, dismayed, and confused about what occurs. Our Lord was clear about His impending rejection, trials, arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection.
The shadow Christology of the Old Testament converges with the reality of this day. Prophecy and fulfillment merge! Jesus knew that the CROSS must come before the CROWN, that He must come in MEEKNESS before He comes in MAJESTY. The disciples didn't get it, the crowd didn't get it, and the traditional Church hasn't comprehended it either. This should break our hearts to see how utterly alone He is. Palm Sunday is the first day of His rejection!
Had the people known their own law, they would be following the instructions Moses gave them regarding the Passover. For Sunday was the 10th of Nisan and there was an important divine instruction about that day:
3) Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household.
4)Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb
5)Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
6)And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. (Exodus 12:3-6)
On this day Moses says, "The Passover lamb was to be selected." Our Heavenly Father, on Palm Sunday, is selecting His unique, born Son, our Lord Jesus to be the Lamb for this special Passover. Interestingly, Paul used the figure of the Passover when thinking about the cross when he said, "Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us"(1 Corinthians 5:7).
2. The Prophecy Which Was Fulfilled (Matthew 21:4,5)
4) Now this took place that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying
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."
Matthew gives us an editorial note. He wants us to see that this event was predicted in the Old Testament. Matthew's Gospel is rich with these notes which are given as an identification card pointing to Jesus. Who is this? Each " as it is written" gives further proof that Jesus is the Messiah. Notice how many times in this Gospel we find this occurring:
· His virgin birth fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 1:22; cp. Isaiah 7:14.
· His place of birth fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 2:5; cp. Micah 5:2.
· His stay in Egypt fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 2:15; cp. Hosea 11:1.
· The murder of the Bethlehem children fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 2:17,18; cp Jeremiah 31:15.
· His place of residence in Nazareth fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 2:23; cp Isaiah 11:1.
· The nature of His ministry fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 8:17; 12:17-21; cp. Isaiah 53:4; 6,9,10.
· The nature of His teaching fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 13:34,35; cp. Psalm 78:2.
· The animal selected in His Palm Sunday ride to Jerusalem fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 21:4; cp. Zechariah 9:9.
· His death fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 26:54; cp. Psalm 22; Isaiah 53.
· The fleeing of the disciples at Jesus' arrest fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 26:31,56; cp Zechariah 13:7
· The betrayal price of thirty pieces of silver fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 27:9; cp. Zechariah11:12,13.
· The dice game which was used to see who would have the garments of our Lord fulfilled prophecy, Matthew 27:35; cp. Psalm 22:18.
Who is He? No doubt in Matthew's mind. There is too much Biblical confirmation for this one to be any other than the Messiah. I am glad that the Holy Spirit led Matthew to put these editorial comments in his gospel. The fulfillment of prophecy is powerful evidence for the truthfulness of our beliefs. Five hundred years before this event occurred the prophet Zachariah predicted that Jesus would enter the city upon a donkey, not a great white stallion, but a lowly beast of burden, not with ostentatious display, but meek and lowly, as an act of humility.
About This Prophecy
Neither Matthew or John quotes the prophecy in full. It is interesting that they quote only that portion that was fulfilled. The entire prophetic statement reads:
9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10) And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:9,10
Zechariah’s prophecy indicates two advents. In verse 9 we have the First Advent and verse 10 the Second. In the First coming of verse nine Jesus arrives meek and lowly bringing salvation, but in the Second He is the ruler whose dominion is "from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth.” Notice again they only quote the portion of the prophecy that was accomplished. In between verse nine and ten is the Church Age. Jesus presented Himself as Israel’s Messiah. They rejected Him, and the result is the postponement of the kingdom of Israel. It is in the Second Advent that Jesus will defeat Israel’s enemies and achieve worldwide peace and rule. Between these two advents, our Lord Jesus Christ is building His church.
3. The People's Reaction (Matthew 21:6-11)
6) And the disciples went and did just as Jesus had directed them,
7) and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid on them their garments, on which He sat.
8) And most of the multitude spread their garments in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees, and spreading them in the road.
9) And the multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were crying out, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”
10) And when He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”
11) And the multitudes were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Affirmation Of The Garments
We see that the people took off their garments and spread them on the road acting as a carpet for Jesus to ride upon. This was a spontaneous act of honor and endearment. They were consistent with their belief that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of their deepest longing and hope, that is, a political leader would come and lead them to victory over Rome. They believed freedom from Roman tyranny would give them control of their own land. Tax relief! Rome had severely taxed them, and in their eyes, it was an intolerable burden to bear. They believed that Jesus would be able to conqueror Rome. They saw the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, and those possessed with a demon expelled by His command. Such power! How could anyone stand against Him? The long-awaited day has come. This is what the prophets had predicted, such as in Isaiah 2:2,4.
In the vision of Isaiah when Messiah comes the "mountain of the Lord's house" will be exalted on top of the mountains. Mountains refer to governments, countries, nations. Israel will govern the world, "all nations shall flow unto it." In verse 4 of this vision Messiah is introduced:
"And He (Jesus Christ) shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people."
What is His first international policy "they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks" Isaiah 2:4. You would have to be a very powerful person to subdue the entire world and force all nations to revamp their military arsenals by turning them into agricultural tools. An omnipotent Messiah is expected to come. No power on earth would be able to defeat Him.
Affirmation Of The Branches
They spread branches on the road before the Lord. This was how they identified Him with the great Old Testament prophecies regarding "The Branch." Again, all of the prophecies about the Branch are related to the coming of this great political leader who would rid Israel of all her enemies and propel her to elite status among the nations (Isaiah 4:2, 11:1-5,12; Jeremiah 23: 5; 33:15; Zechariah 3:8;6:12). In Isaiah, the Branch will gather the Jews from the four corners of the earth. "With the breath of His lips, He will slay the wicked. . .". The Branch is a great and mighty conqueror. They laid their branches down in front of Him signifying, "You are the Branch, You will conqueror and rule the world."
Affirmation Of The Singing
They sang the Millennial Hymn along the way. Psalm 118 was sung by the crowd. Matthew and John recount the song in their respective gospels. This is a well know anthem like "The Star-Spangled Banner" is to us. It was traditionally sung at the Feast of Tabernacles which was in the Fall. This is Spring, our month of April. Why were they singing this song? This is the Passover. Didn't these good Jews know what holy day they were celebrating?
I will not devote the time here for a study of the Feasts of Israel (found in Leviticus 26, which you should read). However, it is important to note that The Feast of Tabernacle is a prophetic picture of the Millennial rule of the Messiah. Messiah is coming to conquer His enemies and rule for a thousand years. This is called the Millennium. This song gives us an insight into what was on their minds. Sad to say they missed the whole point of our Lord's First Advent. They were confused about the purpose of His coming: to put away sin once for all and forever. This is why Jesus is weeping. He has come to lay down His life for their sins, and they wanted Him to seize the Crown.
Affirmation Of Their Ignorance
When He entered the city, a question concerning Him arose. Who is this? They didn't know. Jesus has been telling them for three years, and they still did not know who He was! Who is this? If you get this question wrong it isn't a bad grade that you will get; it is a Christless eternity. Well, He must be a prophet. Notice, outside the city, they made Jesus their King in the hope that He would exercise His power and Sovereignty and inside the city the people promoted Jesus to the status of prophet. They were right and wrong at the same time. He is a king. He is a prophet. Believing Jesus is a king or a prophet or even both will not save you. We must believe that Jesus is the Savior who comes to take away our sins. He is the Son of the living God who has come to die for our sins and in our place die on the cross. What think ye of Christ? Jesus will ask this question. I pray that you who are reading this lesson can give the right answer. What a mess! Outside the city, the people were saying "There goes our king." Inside the city, the people were saying, "There goes our prophet." BUT WHO CAN SAY, "THERE GOES MY SAVIOR?" They accepted Him as King but rejected Him as savior.
Application For Today
If this event is to be applied accurately with impact upon us personally, then meditate on this. It has to do with what is happening in the temple. The temple and its priesthood were responsible for the dissemination of the Word of God. There was no accurate understanding in Jesus' day of Messiah because the teaching of the Word ceased and was replaced by the traditions of the rabbis. Much like what has happened today with Palm Sunday where the focus is on the cheering crowd. This day is the beginning of Jesus' sorrow. We have lost sight of the powerful picture of Jesus sitting upon that donkey seeing the city and weeping. My God, look at Him, He is weeping! His heart is breaking. Why? Salvation is in no other. The burden alone is all His. He alone is the way the truth and the life! No one can go to heaven but through Him. A political Messiah can only save you politically, and Jerusalem needs a spiritual savior. In His heart of hearts, He knows they have rejected Him, as John says, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11).
The ignorance of the people can be directly traced to two factors: (1) The teaching of the Word of God had long ago ceased. Woe to any Pastor who does not feed the sheep, who does not accurately divide the Word of Truth. (2) They created their traditions to replace the Word of God. The professional clergy of that day developed an intricate system of works. A system of works for salvation. They took the law which was to point people to Christ and made it the means of salvation. Keeping the law for salvation took the place of faith in the coming of Christ.
Whenever you add to Scripture, you distort Scripture. When Jesus came to offer himself as a savior from sin, they rejected him because they were already saved (John 8: 33,39). They were saved by keeping the law of Moses and therefore ignored all He said concerning their need of salvation.
The rabbis politicized Messiah and distorted those clear Old Testament passages about a suffering Messiah. So instead of 500 years of thoughtful and thorough investigation and commentary among the rabbis about a suffering Messiah, there is an awful and appalling silence. All that existed was a hope of a political Messiah. Same as Israel today, but now we have added two thousand more years of rejection and ignorance. Now the rabbis have made the Messianic expectation the statehood of Israel. It is a political or a kind of national salvation. The peace that they want is rest from their enemies, but the peace they need is a rest from their sins.
What happens next? In our next topic, we will examine Luke 19:39-44.