Walking into Triumph

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Intro

Imagine the scene. It is Passover week in Jerusalem. The city is bursting — pilgrims everywhere, historians believe that during the Passover Festival anywhere from 100,000 to 2.5 Million people would fill the streets and surrounding Hills of Jerusalem.

From the west, a procession enters through the gate. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, rides in on a warhorse — 3,000 to 5,000 armored soldiers flanking him, the sound of hobnailed sandals striking stone in perfect unison, banners bearing the image of Caesar lifted high. Rome has come to remind Jerusalem who was in charge. Power. Force. Empire.

But from the east — from the Mount of Olives — another procession descends into the city. No warhorse. A donkey. No armor. Just a borrowed cloak thrown across its back. No legions. Just fishermen, tax collectors, the desperate and the hopeful, waving palm branches and crying out: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Two kings. Two processions. Two visions of power entering the same city on the same day.

Today, we are begin the journey through the last seven days of Jesus’ life as teacher and prophet

But before we start would you join me in Prayer

Body

Matthew 21:1–11 CSB

1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Now I know this sermon would be better served to preach in a couple weeks but we are on a mission to discover all that God wants us to learn from the Book of Matthew. This is where we are in the letter.

The Day of Jesus’ arrival.

This week I have done a lot of studying of Jesus entry for his last Passover.

I want everyone to understand that as I study or read any Historical Biblical Book or Concordance I take careful time to open my Bible and go to every reference the Author quotes.

I grew up listening to Pastors and just taking their word for it. I do not do that any longer. I research everything. Question Everything. When I bring something to this pulpit I want to bring it in a manner that can be trusted.

In the same way I challenge you to study your Bible and to Read things for yourself. You can not trust the sound bites you get from Tik Tok and Youtube until you have verified them for yourself.

Now in that framework let’s begin to look at this Passage.

Matthew 21:1–3 CSB

1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.”

Basically, Jesus is asking his disciples to commit Grand Theft Donkey.

But it is ok just tell the Owner the Lord has need of it.

They did and they brought the donkeys.

Later Matthew would realize that this is the fulfillment of Prophecy.

Matthew 21:5 CSB

5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

A direct fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9

I want to stop for a moment and focus on the word Need

Matthew 21:3 CSB

3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.”

This word demonstrates the idea of necessity.

Without the two donkey’s prophecy goes unfulfilled.

Because of this owners obedience He was able to take part in the fulfillment of prophecy…….

What is it that you possess that the Lord may want to use to fulfill prophecy…….

Moving on….

The Disciples retrieve the Donkeys and place their coats on the colt an animal that has never been ridden.

It’s a Donkey and this is significant……….

The Second Adam once again has Authority over Wild Beasts…..

Matthew 21:8–9 CSB

8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

This is an illustration that the crowds still don’t understand what is going on here but how could they.

They are looking for Messiah Son of David…… The Conquering King. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

They are laying down palm branches the same way they did in the time of the Maccabees following Military victories over the Syrian Greeks and the cleansing of the temple.

The Crowds believe this is why Jesus is entering the city. To overthrow the Roman Occupation and establish His reign.

But what Jesus is actually doing is a much different presentation……

The Jewish Calendar date on the day Jesus arrives in the City is the 10th day of Nisan

The day the Jews have been instructed to select the Passover Lamb…….

Exodus 12:3–6 CSB

3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ families, one animal per family. 4 If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each will eat. 5 You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats. 6 You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.

On the tenth day the Lamb is selected and for four days it was inspected to make sure it was without blemish.

Over the course of the next several chapters we are going to lean in as Jesus is inspected to be found without blemish…….you may even grow to fall in love with the one whom you will slaughter.

Listen to how John the Baptist describes Jesus…….

John 1:29 CSB

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The Passover is not an atonement meal…………..

Jesus is entering the city to once and for all free us from slavery and provide our path to reconciliation with God………

Matthew

Matthew 21:10–11 CSB

10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

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