The King's Entry

Introduction

-Some people just know how to make an entrance. The doors at the end of the room swinging open to reveal a beautifully adorned bride on her wedding day. A precious baby to brand new parents. A singer popping up out of the floor of a stage to wow the audience and sing their favorite hits.

Other people make grand entrances, like kings. They are often announced by a herald, blowing trumpets, escorted by guards, and a crowd that stands in honor of the royalty that walks in with confidence and power before sitting on the coronation chair.

Jesus is a King unlike any other. His entrance into Jerusalem was unique and didn’t speak of pride but humility, not power but service. Still, the crowds honored Him as the King they had been waiting for. This is the Sunday before Passover, a mere 5 days before His crucifixion, and Jesus makes an entrance to remember on what has become known as Palm Sunday. Let’s turn to Matthew 21 and see the entrance of the King.

I. Palm Sunday (v. 1-11)

A. v. 1-5: Bethphage is a little village about a mile and a half from Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives is half a mile.

1.He gave two disciples unique instructions with knowledge that only the Son of Man could know:

a. There was a donkey and her colt tied up

b. The anticipation of what the owner would say

c. The perfect response to get what was needed.

2. Why was the colt needed? To fulfill Scripture and reveal to the people who Jesus really was (v. 4-5)

a. Jesus came seated on a donkey, not a horse to show His military might nor an elephant or camel to show His power and strength, but a donkey.

b. The donkey is not a majestic creature, but a beast of burden. This shows His humility in service, bearing the burden of the sins of the whole world

c. It wasn’t just a donkey, but the colt of a donkey. An animal that probably hadn’t been broken in yet and used for hard labor. It was being bred for it and raised for it, just like Jesus. He had not yet endured the burden He was meant to bear, but He was preparing for it

B. As Jesus road into Jerusalem the crowds praised Him as the exalted King (v. 6-11)

1. Surely, they must have recognized the connection between Jesus riding on a donkey and the prophecy from Zachariah (v. 9)

2. As Jesus road into the city the crowds recognized several pivotal things: Jesus is...

a. The Son of David

b. A Prophet

c. He comes in the Name of the Lord

d. And, He is worthy to be praised

3. Still, many wondered at this welcome and considered what it could mean that this Jesus of Nazareth has received such blessings.

C. Many still wonder at Jesus today

1.Was He merely a good, moral teacher and nothing else? Was He a charlatan? Is He simply a popular historical figure? Or was He something more?

2. There was something different about Jesus so that the crowds had mixed reactions. His goodness, compassion, kindness, and even His veracity left a lingering image in the mind and questions for the observer

a. Some today boldly proclaim Jesus and worship Him every Sunday

b. Still others don’t quite know what to make of Him and are undecided

c. What about you? What do you think of Jesus? We have seen two groups respond to Jesus’ entrance (worshipers and skeptics), but there’s one more group (the rejecters)

II. Temple Cleansing (v. 12-17)

A. Jesus shows that He is more than the Son of David, He is also the Son of God (v. 12-13).

1.The Pharisees, temple workers, and priests were swindling God’s people

a. They were selling sacrifices for a profit, not out of the kindness of their hearts

b. Even worse, they turned God’s House into a shopping mall. The place of prayer and worship became a place of trade and greed.

2. Jesus, however, drove out all those who contaminated the temple. He flipped over the tables where they were doing their nasty business and brought about order and peace.

a. Of course, this is Jesus’ zeal for His Father, but it also in fulfillment of Scripture

b. Both, Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 are referenced here. Jesus is protecting His Father’s House and purifying it

3. It’s interesting to note that the multitudes did not have a problem with this (v. 14). They brought their sick and lame to the temple so Jesus could heal them.

a. The only ones who were upset were those who profited off the shady dealings (v. 15)

b. Children were praising Jesus for the good He was doing. But the Pharisees and scribes became indignant (angry and offended). So, they accusingly question Jesus (v. 16-17)

c. Again, this happens in accordance with the Scriptures. Psalm 8:2 speaks of a Messianic prophecy where the mouths of children will shout praise.

4. Jesus then retired to Bethany for the night, kicking off His final week with a bang, leaving an impression no one was soon to forget

B. Jesus is completely unique in so many ways

1.In one day, we see 3 prophecies of Scripture fulfilled in Jesus

a. This should have left little to no doubt to the crowds that He really is the One they had been waiting for

b. Not only that, He miraculously healed many people (which is something special that we see something God do through His servants)

2. He is the King who came in humility for service, the Prophet who cleanses His people from sin, proclaiming repentance, and the Son of God who is praised by children.

a. The multitudes recognized His greatness and came to Him for help and praise. The Pharisees and scribes became angry at the good He was doing.

b. How many today react to all Jesus did and said with anger and rejection?

1.

Conclusion

How will we respond to Jesus? Like the multitudes who praised Him as King? Like the skeptics or weren’t sure what to make of Jesus? Or like the Pharisees and scribes who were indignant at His deeds? Jesus is the Humble King who fulfilled Scripture and He bore our burdens. The least we can do is praise Him for it.

Jesus came humbly to serve and bear our burdens. He always led by example. Therefore, we should do the same thing in His Name for others: bear one another’s burdens, serve others, look to each other’s needs as more important than our own, helping those we can, purifying ourselves from sin, and praising God because of our King.

The King has come! How will you respond?