The Triumphal Entry

The King Enters the City. Our passage today comes from the gospel according to Saint Matthew, the 21st chapter.

Let us pray.

Holy Father,

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Thank you for Christ, our rock and our redeemer. The lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

In the name of Jesus we pray, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God age after age,

Amen

On May 6th, 1998 one of the greatest baseball games ever played took place. A young pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, Kerry Wood, took the mound for his 5th career start. Woods managed to tie the all time single game strikeout record, gave up one hit, and hit one batter. According to advanced metrics, this is the greatest pitching performance of all time. Woods captured lightning in a bottle and gave one of the most exhilierating games ever seen. To this day, I still will go back and rewatch the game.

Woods never could catch that lightning again, it moved with the clouds and his arm that dominated eventually broke down. Woods is one of the greatest what if’s of major league baseball. What if he had stayed healthy? What if his manager knew how to use a young fireballer? Whenever I watch the old highlights I am struck by the awe of the moment but also the tragedy I know is coming.

This evening we will look at the triumphal entry. As you hold your palm branches and hear the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem as the king, the son of David, it is always filled with an undercurrent of what you know happens next. The king comes, and the king dies. If you have your bibles please open them to Matthew 21:1-3, and we will see the King who came and how Matthew is pointing to the cross.

Matthew 21:1–3 NKJV

1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

We begin with Jesus coming to Jerusalem. Now we know why Jesus comes to Jerusalem. He is coming with the cross in sight. But why at this time? Because Jesus is coming to celebrate the passover. Jesus is coming with his disciples to celebrate one of the most important Jewish festivals. Jesus and his disciples are coming to gather together to celebrate when YHWH led his people out of Egypt.

So they come to Jerusalem they come to Bethphage. A hebrew word meaning the house of unripe figs. Jesus comes to Israel, who in the prophets is compared to a fig tree and here they come to the house of unripe figs. Could there be a hidden meaning in this? Kids what do you think?

But before Jesus enters he stops here, near the mount of olives. He stops and sends two of his disciples and he says you will find a donkey and a colt tied there. Bring them to me. And if anyone stops say the Lord has need of them. And all will be well.

Imagine this, here is Jesus, the king of Heaven is coming into Jerusalem. He is coming to his people. And he comes not on a white stallion. Not with an army. He’s not coming to start a war and march to the throne. He comes on a donkey, to celebrate the passover.

This is how the saviour comes, in humility. Christ comes and puts on flesh, YHWH incarnate arrives and he doesn’t come like King Aurthur or Constantine, he comes meek and lowly. If you are a Christian, this needs to become your model. You live in a world of ease and luxury. You want to buy something and amazon has it to your house the next day. Your homes are climate controlled. I have a machine in my house that makes special ice because I don’t like the ice that comes out of my fridge. But Jesus comes not demanding what he deserves, and we as people demand more than deserve. You deserve nothing, and if you ever start to think that you deserve more, its your right, then you need to look for Jesus.

You think that you deserve your spouse to love you and fulfill you in whatever way you desire. You think you deserve a raise so you can buy a new truck. You think you deserve to have people listen to you because you are so wise. You think you deserve your parents to allow you to do whatever your friends are doing. Stop it! You deserve nothing. Everything you have is an act of grace and mercy that is far more than you deserve. Your saviour came riding in on a donkey, and you think you deserve more than the creator of the universe?

Jesus comes in humility. And those who studied the scriptures should have understood this. Because this had been foretold by the prophets. Matthew 21:4-6

Matthew 21:4–6 NKJV

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.

Jesus here is fulfilling prophecy that had been spoken 500 years before. The King is coming to the daughters of Zion. The children of the temple are to receive their king, but not a king as they think. Saul came in as a tall and mighty man. David came in dancing. Solomon came in with riches. But Jesus comes in on a donkey. The King has come. He is coming to his people.

This is why we have palm branches, in the time of Jesus they would lay palm branches down for the victorious king coming to his people. This happens in 2 Maccabees when Judas Maccabeus rescues the people from oppression, he was greate with palm branches. Kids the palm branches you are holding are declaring to people that Jesus is king. The king victorious.

But Jesus is coming before his battle. His battle is about to take place. But he is the king who deserves all praise, glory, and honor. The prophets had foretold this. The pharisees and sadducees should have known this scripture and knew what was taking place. But they missed it. We know that in the week to follow Jesus will be arrested, tried by the Jews, tried by the Romans, and eventually lead to the cross where he would die.

Matthew 21:7–11 NKJV

7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “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 had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus now comes riding into the city. His disciples place him on top of their clothes riding on the donkey and the colt. And as he comes here is a great multitude, they lay their clothes on the road and palm branches. Here is the king, dont let the feet of his donkey be dirtied by the dirt, instead he is to praised.

Hosanna to the son of David. Hosanna, it means save us, help us. Here is the one who comes in the name of the Lord and to him be the glory. The son of David, the long awaited son who will sit on the throne for eternity. Save us O king. Save us oh David’s son. Save us, Immanuel.

And he comes into the city and the entire city takes notice. Who is this man. Who are the people praising? This is the prophet from Nazareth. The prophet spoken of by Moses, the one who has come to teach the Law and to rule over his people.

This is how Jesus comes into Jerusalem. And what is striking is that even this event is typological. This event, Jesus coming into his city to his people is pointing to something greater. What do I mean by this. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NKJV

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

This is when Christ comes again with final judgement. And notice that we will be gathered up in the clouds to meet him. And no this text isn’t talking about a rapture, it’s not talking about Christians poofing out of thin air. No what it says is that he will descend and gather his people and we see the picture. We will be the ones surrounding the Lord as he comes unto the Earth. We will be the ones casting palm branches and clothes for him to descend upon. For this is when the king will come again. When every enemy has been defeated and all that is left to be defeated is death. Then Jesus will once again come to his people. We will see him face to face. We will stand in the joyous congregation of all those who have died before us and who have come after us.

Look when it says the dead in Christ will rise first, thats you church. You are going to die. And then praise be to God you will rise again. We are Christians, we believe in resurrection. You will die and your body will eagerly await the day when soul and body are united together again so that you may welcome your Lord unto this Earth.

This is what the triumphal entry is pointing us towards. This is what we are awaiting on Palm Sunday. Because we know the story, we know that this triumphal entry is the beginning of the passion of our Lord and Saviour. The cross looms heavily over us this week as we think and meditate on the cross. For we know that Christ will go to the passover meal, he will institute the sacrament of the Eucharist, he will be betrayed, abandoned by all his closest friends, he will be unfairly put on trial, he will be slandered, mocked, and blasphemed. He will go to the cross and nails will be driven into his hands and feet, his holy and precious blood will be poured out for you.

Jacob pavesi

Closing prayer

Almighty God, graciously grant that Your Word, which we have heard, may be inscribed inwardly on our hearts. As we receive Your Word meekly with pure affection, may our hearts be filled with love and reverence for You. Cause us to bear the fruit of the Spirit and to live in holiness, diligently following Your commandments. And may it please You to use us to lead those who are lost, wandering, and confused into the way of truth. All this we pray for the honor and praise of Your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns now and forever, age after age. Amen