The Triumphal Entry: A King on a Donkey

Some images don’t make sense.

Last weekend, Caleb went to Atlanta and he took a picture (with the same camera I left on the bench at Bush Gardens). This is a once in lifetime picture.

When you look at this picture, what goes through your mind? Anxiety, stress, maybe you were thinking, what an idiot!

This is one of those pictures that do not make any sense… why would you have “your precious” phone in your hand on a rollercoaster? He was probably trying to get the perfect image or video so he could post it and send it to his friends.

When we look at Jesus and HIS fulfillment of scripture, there are lots of images that just don’t make any sense… Jesus is revealed as a lion and the lamb together… God’s holy yet HIS love for the lost and the outcast… Jesus fed the 5000 but described HIMSELF as the bread of life… Jesus is the mighty king messiah yet the suffering servant… these are images that simply don’t make any sense.

This morning is Palm Sunday and we will be in Matthew 21. Matthew who is an eyewitness of Jesus, wrote his account of Jesus from a Jewish perspective. Matthew points to the fulfillment of prophecy from the Old Testament.

The triumphal entry account is in all 4 of the Gospels. Matthew and John are first hand accounts and Mark and Luke are from other eye witnesses so this brings different perspectives of the same account.

Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and demonstrating His identity as King. The crowds celebrate Him, proclaiming Him as the Son of David, reflecting their hopes and expectations of a messianic figure.

Matthew 21:1–11 ESV

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 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!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

PRAY

Here we see Jesus' humility connected with HIS kingship. True leadership comes with humility and service. As believers it’s important that we embrace Jesus as King in both triumph and suffering.

Jesus’ kingship sharply contrasts worldly expectations of power with HIS humble approach. As we recognize Jesus' authority in our lives we too can follow HIS example of humility.

Looking at this important event in passion week, we can see some powerful images of what Jesus did as HE was prepared to face the cross.

1. Jesus is Directed by Divine Design

Matthew 21:1–3 ESV

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

Right away, Jesus gives instructions to HIS disciples showing His authority and knowledge of the unfolding events.

When Jesus sends two disciples to fetch a donkey, this was not by accident or just some impulsive request. This was an intentionally designed fulfillment of prophecy demonstrating His divine kingship.

As believers we may not always understand why Jesus does what he does but we must always recognize Jesus' authority. We are called to not always understand everything but to trust and act in obedience. Even when the path is not fully understood Jesus still has complete authority over everything.

Jesus was giving direction inspired and influenced by HIS divine design. We must respond in faith, trusting that HE always has a better plan then we do.

2. Jesus is the Prophetic Peaceful King

Matthew 21:4–7 ESV

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.

His arrival on a donkey was a sign of peace; a conquering king would come on a warhorse. Jesus was indeed king but not in the nationalistic sense. He was the King, but he would bring peace by his own suffering.

Mathew’s account of the Triumphal Entry referred to the prophecy fulfillment from Zechariah.

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

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.

This Old Testament prophecy shows this role as the messianic King who comes to bring peace, not through military conquest, but through His sacrificial love.

Jesus, our King, entered Jerusalem in humility to fulfill God’s promise, calling us to recognize His authority and follow His example of servant leadership.

Jesus could have chosen any other mode of transportation but HE choose to use a donkey.

A donkey was a common mount for transportation in biblical times.

In this Zec 9:9, the reference to a donkey is likely meant evoke the image of an ideal king who rules justly and accepts his rule with humility, not pomp and arrogance.

Jesus mounts a donkey as a symbol of His peaceful kingship rather than a warrior's conquest. By doing this, Jesus reveals the true nature of His kingdom—and how it contrasts with earthly power.

Jesus, who had all power and authority in this moment… HE was already ruler over everything yet HE led with peace and humility.

How do we usurp our power over someone else… especially those we hate?

Look to Jesus as we embrace our calling to serve in humility and peace.

What would Jesus do? Jesus turns expectations of leadership upside down by becoming the prophetic peaceful king.

3. Jesus was Celebrated yet Misunderstood

Matthew 21:8–9 ESV

8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 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!”

The crowd celebrated Jesus but they did not fully understand the significance of this moment.

The crowd acknowledged Jesus as the "Son of David," which is a messianic title.

Their praise demonstrates an awareness of biblical prophecy but their hopes were limited to a political liberator.

They had certain expectations. They had high hopes that God would move in the direction becoming a political leader. They did not see that Jesus came to set all humanity free from sin.

They missed to bigger purpose because they were misunderstood and focused on their own situation.

Let me speak for myself… I relate well with this because often times, my world revolves around me. I need… I’m struggling… I want… I’m suffering…

There is nothing wrong with going to God with any one of these request, in fact, we should. However, we often miss that God has a bigger plan and purpose then what we can’t see.

The Jews wanted freedom from the Romans. Jesus was celebrated but misunderstood.

We celebrate Jesus but we don’t fully understand how HE will work out HIS plan in our lives. I can sometimes have an expectation that God is going to yield to my plan. But the truth is, God will often delay things or withhold things to remind me that God has a better plan then I do.

Yielding to God’s plan is something we need to learn even when we don’t understand.

Jesus accepted their joy while recognizing that it was based on false assumptions.

Jesus arrived as King, but not by the crowd’s definition. Their perspective was limited to the immediate historical moment:

They wanted a political Messiah. Jesus insisted on remaining the timeless Savior. The people in Jesus day couldn’t see beyond the Roman occupation; Jesus saw the needs of the world held hostage to sin.

We reduce God when we demand HIS attention only to our concerns.

True, God encourages us to bring our daily needs to him in prayer. But God refuses to be a private deity. When we treat him like a house idol or a village god, he graciously fails our expectations. If we answer the question “How big is your God?” by mere human measures, we will diminish the King of kings and Lord of lords. We can be confident that God can meet our daily needs when we have a clearer picture of his greatness. Don’t limit God to your expectations.

4. The Crowd was Stirred but Certain

Matthew 21:10–11 ESV

10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The entire city admired Jesus, they even worshipped Jesus but the crowd was stirred, questioning Jesus’ identity. “Who is this Jesus?”

Do we acknowledge Jesus as King during both public and private victories? Are we just caught up in the moment, led by a flood of emotions toward Jesus that only hits the surface but never takes us deeper into true discipleship?

Jesus wants to be our KING but we have to make that choice. Right now we have a choice but there will be a day that we will not have a choice to respond to Jesus.

Philippians 2:10–11 MSG

10 so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, 11 and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Even when we are stirred, are we certain that Jesus Christ is Lord, that HE is King and HE has good plans for us? Even when we don’t understand HIS plans, we can come to HIM with questions, and we can seek HIM because HE loves us and has so much more for us.

We must fully invest in recognizing Jesus’ kingship, pushing past mere admiration and going into true discipleship.

TAKE AWAY:

As believers it’s important that we embrace Jesus as King in both triumph and suffering.

Are we