A Day of Triumphal Entry

Text: Matthew 21:1-17

Each year we celebrate the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem — as we should.

But we tend to limit Jesus’ triumphant entry to Him riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.

But here in Matthew we see three other indicators of Jesus’ triumph.

Palm Sunday is MORE than a triumphant entry — it is a day committed to triumph.

A Day of Prophetic Fulfillment

But let’s start with that donkey ride.

We need to understand that a person riding into the capital on a donkey or a mule meant they were the chosen one.

The one chosen to rule over the nation of Israel.

They were royalty.

When Absalom attempted to usurp his father David, we see him riding on a royal mount to his destruction

2 Samuel 18:9 (LSB) Then Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding on his mule, …

When Solomon was to become king we his father, David, making sure he had the symbol of anointing :

1 Kings 1:33–34 (LSB) And the king [David] said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34 “And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet shall anoint him there as king over Israel and blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

So, it was no accident that Jesus had two of His disciples borrow a donkey for this ride into Jerusalem.

What Jesus did on what we call Palm Sunday was prophesied in the Old Testament:

Zechariah 9:9 (NLT) Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

Please understand that Jesus fulfilled more than just this one prophecy.

In fact, there are over 300 prophecies in the OT about the first coming of Messiah.

Every one of the prophecies are fulfilled to the letter by Jesus Christ.

The odds that just 60 of those more than 300 prophecies being fulfilled by the only person who claimed to be the Son of God, and who died on a “tree” on Calvary, and who rose the third day were calculated by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, to be 1 in 10 to the 895th power. That is a 1 over a 1 followed by 895 zeros — as close to impossible as you or I could imagine — and yet, Jesus fulfilled not just 60 but over 300 OT prophecies — including the prophecy that we remember being fulfilled on this Palm Sunday.

A Day of Temple Cleansing

But fulfilling prophecy by riding a donkey into Jerusalem was not the only thing Jesus did as a sign that He was the anointed King sent by His Father.

In verse 12 and 13 we see an authoritative Jesus driving out moneychangers and religious sales people who have set up shop in the Temple.

Not only were they defiling the Temple with their activities, they were taking up space

Space reserved for the Gentiles who wanted to seek after God.

As I read from Malachi a few minutes ago:Malachi 1:11 (GW) “From the nations where the sun rises to the nations where the sun sets, my name will be great. Incense and pure offerings will be offered everywhere in my name, because my name will be great among [ALL] the nations,” says the LORD of Armies.

Jesus obviously desires His people to make space and invite in all who would seek the Father.

It’s not about fund raisers.

It’s about soul saving.

It’s about setting aside space to be a place of prayer.

A place where the lost find Jesus.

A Day of Healing

Even still, Jesus was not done.

Once the Temple was cleansed, it became what the Father intended a House of Prayer.

A place where the sick, the blind, the lame, the hopeless could petition God for relief — for help — for healing.

Jesus showed them how it was done by bringing from the shadows those who had been pushed aside for the sake of money.

Although it wasn’t JUST about money — it was about convenience.

How inconvenient to have to go outside the Temple to buy the required sacrifice!

How inconvenient to go outside the Temple to convert the many different currencies into Temple money!

Our hearts resonate with that!

We LOVE convenience!

But may our push for convenience never push aside the sick, the broken, the outcast.

Jesus brought the sick and broken from the sidelines, from the shadows into the center of attention.

Of God’s attention.

He brought the blind and the lame forward

He laid hands on them.

He healed them.

A Day of Praise

And still the Day of Triumph was not over.

The children had a part.

Yes, the children.

These little ones brought prayer and petition and praise (all wrapped up in that word: Hosanna!).

Luke 18:16–17 (NLT) Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Yesterday I met with Becky and Amy Gill.

The Board has approved the application for membership.

They went through a membership class with me yesterday.

We will receive them as our newest members in 2 weeks on April 16.

But yesterday we were talking through the various things we do as a church.

I briefly mentioned how we keep children in the service until most of worship is over.

They learn to worship.

They learn the value of the Gifts of the Spirit.

How will we pass along the fire of worship? of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Parents, please, I beg of you ...

When we begin our service with worship do NOT hand your child a phone to entertain them.

Instead, teach them to worship.

Involve them.

Teach them to sing — almost all the songs we sing can be seen on YouTube.

Instead of brain-rotting drivel of “reality” shows, make a playlist of worship songs.

Let them watch videos of worship and learn the songs.

Teach them about lifting your hands in worship.

Of looking to God and praising Him for who he is!

Here we have the children leading the prayer, praise and worship.

Jesus, dealing with the reaction of chief priests and scribes, let them know this too was a fulfilment of prophecy.

A fulfilment of Psalm 8:2 “From the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”

May we see a prophetic anointing on our children to do like these children did 2000 years ago to see praise and worship lifted up.

Praise and worship assaulting any and all who would stand against Messiah.

The King Is Here

So, 2000 years ago, in multiple ways, Jesus established His authority as God’s anointed King.

As we see here in our text, there were those who rejected the prophetic proof.

They rejected the signs and wonders that declared He was King.

They rejected the praise and petition of children.

What will YOU do with those same signs?

As the Worship team comes forward …

Will You acknowledge Him as King?

If you have never done so, I encourage you to repent of your sins.

Coronate Him to be King over your life — absolute monarch of every kingdom of your life.

Do you need His cleansing and deliverance so that your life can be a “house” devoted to prayer and praise?

Begin to surrender your life.

Bee willing to set aside convenience.

We willing to set aside the trappings of this world, the money of this world — and seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Do you need His healing?

Don’t stand on the sidelines.

Don’t stand in the shadows.

Come forward for prayer.

Receive your healing in Jesus’ Name!

Will you praise and worship Him?

The children knew enough to do that.

Do we?