Matthew 21:1-11
The Triumphal Entry
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Jesus knows all things...Jesus tells two of His disciples to go into the village and you will find a donkey tied, with her colt beside her...Untie them and bring them to me...If anyone asks tell them that they LORD needs them...
But His entry is one of humbleness and of meekness...He does not enter Jerusalem on a shiny majestic horse...He comes riding on the foal of a donkey...Jesus can do anything, have anything, and His choice is to enter Jerusalem for His last time, riding a small colt...The powerful kings rode in on knightly horses... Jesus' kingdom was entirely different...His kingdom would have a different order...
Jesus true followers might have thought this would be the greatest triumph...The Messiah entering Jerusalem...Something big is going to happen...He will free the people of Israel...The Roman empire will be defeated...His great military power might now be shown...
Although we are not told in these verses, there are two factions one emotional for Jesus and what He has been doing and another group of Pharisees, teachers of the law, etc. observing and watching wondering what He was going to do next after He gets down off the colt...
Jesus knew scripture...No doubt He wanted to fulfill the prophet Zechariah, who said He would come into Jerusalem riding on a colt...The Jewish people also knew there family tree's...Jesus knew He was a descendant of King David...Jesus not only knew scripture, He is scripture...
The timing of His entry is right before the Passover...There would have been a large crowd coming to the city from all lands to celebrate...The crowd laid cloaks and branches beside His path, for His travel into and around the city...The crowds shouted Hosanna, which is an expression of praise and means to save...The crowd was emotionally as He entered...They also said, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD... Hosanna in the highest"...
Jesus could have entered Jerusalem in any way or fashion He wanted...He could have entered with great horses, chariots, pomp and circumstance...This is what He chose...This was His fate, this is our Savior...He fulfilled the scriptures...
His entry was not stately or authoritative...Jesus knows all things...He came now to Jerusalem knowing that He was going to suffer for us and die on the cross...He came humbly knowing He was going to die for us...