The Triumphal Entry:

Context:

• Jesus and the disciples are nearing Jerusalem.
• When they get to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sends them for transportation.

Matthew 21:2-3 “...Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once...”

Mark 11:2-3 “...Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately...’”

Luke 19:30-31 “...Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it...’”

Was Jesus interested in a donkey or a colt?

• It would appear that He wanted the colt, on which no one had ever sat.

Why did Jesus need the colt (Matt 21:4)?

• To fulfill the prophesy of Zechariah 9:9 “...Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey...”

What type of entry was prophesied?

• A humble entry of a righteous King.
• Not as a proud conqueror on a horse, but one bringing peace.
• Meekness, not majesty.

Matthew 21:7-11 “...They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee...”

Mark 11:7-10 “...And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!...”

Luke 19:35-38 “...And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!...”

John 12:12-13 “...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!...”

What were the people doing?

• Celebrating the coming King, the fulfillment of scripture.

John 12:19 “...So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him...”

What were the Pharisees doing?

• Worrying about the world following Him.

Who celebrates Jesus?

• Those who recognize Him as God’s gift to the world.
• Those who look forward to what His presence means.

Who doesn’t celebrate Jesus?

• Those who see Him as a threat to their position and purposes.
• Those who don’t look forward to what His presence means.

How does Jesus enter into hearts today?

• He still comes humbly, not forcing His way on the population.
• Some recognize Him, some are quite resistant.

How will Jesus enter this world the second time?

• Revelation 19:11-16 “...Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords...”