“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees
and went out to meet Him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the
name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and
sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your
king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand
these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that
these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd
that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him
from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet
him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one
another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after
him.”” (John 12:12–19, ESV)
Many of the events leading up to this day are not recorded
in all four of the gospels, but Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for this last time
is. We find this record also in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; and Luke
19:29-38 where more details are given including the disciples being sent to
gather the donkey and the people spreading their cloaks on the road. All of the
gospel records speak of the people standing in worship of the Christ as palm
branches are waved and they loudly cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the Lord.” John adds that they proclaimed Him as King of Israel.
Matthew points to their recognition that this coming King was of the family of
David and would was coming to take up his throne. Mark added their great hope
that Jesus was ushering in the kingdom of God, and Luke records them
proclaiming their hope that He would bring peace as God is glorified.
The scene must have been amazing as most of the people (as
Matthew wrote) laid down their cloaks to spread out a carpet before their
coming King. It was truly a royal welcome. The miracle worker, who raised
Lazarus from the dead and spoke of Himself as being sent by the Father, was now
being welcomed by the people. This miracle worker who slipped away from their
grasp on numerous occasions because His time had not yet come was now
presenting Himself knowing that His time had indeed come. As this special
Passover approached when lambs were being prepared for sacrifice, the Lamb of
God who takes away the sin of the world was now presenting Himself as well.
The words that the people were proclaiming are the same
words we find in Psalm 118:25-26, “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord,
we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the
Lord.” (Psalm 118:25–26, ESV) The
opening words of verse 25, The word “Hosanna” is a transliteration (or word
converted from another language) of the Hebrew words meaning “Save us” or “save
us now.” Psalm 118 is one of those strongly messianic Psalms and as such it was
regularly quoted at Jewish feasts including the Feast of Dedication and
Passover. The people had been holding onto this hope for a long time, and on
this day they stood together proclaiming Jesus as that long awaited king and
deliverer.
As they chanted Jesus entered Jerusalem before their eyes.
He did not do so with a lot of fanfare of His own doing or with fancy clothes
riding at the center of an impressive parade. No. He came in riding on the back
of a donkey, and even then the colt of a donkey. For those who knew the
prophecies of old, this would have been what to expect. In our passage John
even quotes this specific prophecy of God through Zechariah found in verse 9 of
chapter 9, where see prophesied along with verse 10 both the first coming
(here) and the second coming of Jesus which is yet to come. Jesus was the
coming righteous, just, and humble King. And in His humility He came into town
in the most humble of ways.
There is so much that could be said about any of the aspects
of His entering on that day. If you were to take time to read the four gospel
accounts you will see how each man was moved by the Spirit of God in cohesive
but unique ways to record their cherished thoughts of that day. John adds for
us, again writing from the perspective of time gone by, that even the disciples
did not understand what was going on before them or what was soon to happen.
They did not yet see how quickly the people would turn on Jesus or have any
idea of how He would take His life back up and be fully glorified. The crowd
knew even less, having either been there when Lazarus was raised from the dead
or having heard about it. And the Pharisees who did not believe in Him saw all
of this worship as a gross waste of time and effort. From their perspective the
people (the world) was chasing after Him, but in the end they would gain
nothing from their effort.
Not one of them knew what was going to happen, but all of
them at that moment saw this One man arriving before the people. Some of them
would believe and for them this moment of worship without understanding would
later turn to worship resulting from salvation. For the others, this moment of
worship of a man or observing that worship would result in one day having to
bow before Him as the one true King who they turned their backs on and in whom
they did not believe.
Worship is truly an amazing thing when the object of your worship is worthy. But when the object of your worship is temporary or limited in some way, that worship will eventually turn to disappointment and disillusionment. Whether these people saw Jesus as the temporary answer to their oppression and the solution to their national hopes or they saw Him as the long awaited Messiah who was bringing salvation and life to man made all of the difference. It makes that same difference today. If Jesus is nothing more than a hopeful solution to a problem or a cry in an emergency and that’s all He is to a person, then that person is no different than those who sang His praises in Jerusalem and then stood by as He was crucified. God loves us so much, and He proved it in the most incredible way by God the Son at the will of God the Father taking on the form of man to give Himself up for us as the perfect sacrifice for our sins leading to perfect forgiveness. And beyond that He took His life back up again giving to all who believe the promise and for many now the actual realization of eternal life.
The next time He comes it won't be on a donkey.
“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living
creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads
and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who
was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory
and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the
earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the
throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and
ever!”” (Revelation 5:11–13, ESV)
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