A Purposeful Parade

Jesus Triumphal Entry

21:1-11

Reading: (NASB) 1 When they had approached Jerusalem and had come 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 there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. 3 "If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 "SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'" 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" 10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

Introduction: Today we see ceremonies taking place all around us. When presidents and other high profile officials take office, they are often surrounded by pomp and circumstance.

Picture in you mind, just for a moment, the scene. Miles of parade route decorated with banners, streamers, and other decoration. The streets are overflow with people wanting just to get a glimpse of the one they have heard so much about. They are cheering for the one, that in their minds, is going to change the world and make it better.

Then they finally see the one whom you have been waiting . They are surrounded by their ante rage, riding in the flashiest vehicle, and happily waving to the crowd.

Now, let’s go back two-thousand and look at a very different parade. It is now the last week of Jesus’ life. Jesus was about to make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and demonstrate that He the very the Savior of the world.

Background: Now, before we talk about Jesus’ purposeful parade, let’s take a few minutes to look at the background, leading up to it.

· Jesus at Jericho Jesus heals Bartimaeus (; ; )Jesus stays with Zacchaeus and tells the parable of the 10 servants ()

· People talk about Jesus as Passover approaches

()55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

· Jesus at Bethany before the triumphal entry: It is now the last week of Jesus’ life. He had spent the night before (the Sabbath evening) in Bethany with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha; () 1Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

Objectives: Today we are going to look at purpose of Jesus’ triumphal entry:

I. Jesus approached Jerusalem (v.1).

II. Jesus fulfilled prophecy (v.2-5).

III. Jesus received the worship of both the disciples and the crowds (v.6-9).

IV. Jesus stirred the city: causing the Jewish leaders to act (v.10-11).

I. (21:1) Jesus’ Approach: Jesus' last week began in Jerusalem.

1 When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Here we have two important locations:

1. Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives

BETHPHAGE (in Aram. ‘place of young figs’). A village on the Mount of Olives, on or near the road from Jericho to Jerusalem and near Bethany (; ; ). Its site is unknown.

2. Jerusalem:

JERUSALEM is the capital city of biblical Israel. It is located atop a limestone plateau in the Judaean Mountains, flanked by the Hinnom Valley to the southwest. The Kidron Valley is to the east, separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives.

Jerusalem is central to each of the Gospels as:

· The city that hosts the climax of Jesus’ work: his death and resurrection (; ; ; ; compare ).

· Luke’s Gospel begins and ends in Jerusalem (1:8–23; 24:52–53).

· Jesus is presented in the temple, and our only snapshot of his adolescent life is in the temple (2:22–23; 2:41–50).

The last week of our Lord's life has been known as Holy Week since the earliest of times. The Triumphal Entry was the first event of the week, taking place on the first day. It was and still is called Palm Sunday.

During Passover, there were probably about 2 million people in and around Jerusalem. Up to this time, Jesus had cautioned people not to tell who He was, and He had deliberately avoided public scenes because His time had not come (). “So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come”. Now, the time had come. Jesus was fully in control as he prepared to enter during this time of Passover and become the sacrificial lamb, to once and for all cover the sins of the world.

3. The two disciples sent from Bethphage were not named.

Jesus had no means of transportation other than His feet, to get Him where He wanted to go.

So, to fulfill the prophecies of scripture Jesus began His last week in Bethphage and sent two disciples on a special mission.

II. (21:2-5) Jesus Fulfilled: The Lord deliberately fulfilled prophecy.

(The first reason for this public presentation)

2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. 3 "If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 "SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'"

1. Christ sent two disciples into the city to secure a donkey and her young colt. He borrowed the two animals from another man, probably another disciple.

2. Christ had a reason for making such detailed preparations to enter Jerusalem. He was deliberately fulfilling the prophecy of . The prophecy said four things.

a. "Tell [ Jerusalem]" Because what she expected was not going to happen, not like she anticipated.

b. Jerusalem's King was coming, coming just somewhat differently than expected.

c. The Messiah was coming in meekness not as a reigning monarch. He was coming to win men's hearts and lives spiritually and eternally, not physically and materially (see notes—• ; note—• ; cp. ).

d. The Messiah was coming not as a conqueror riding a white stallion, but as a King of peace riding a donkey. He was coming to save the world through peace, to reconcile the world to the God of love, not kill men and overthrow their governments (the Romans and Gentiles).

This was God's will prophesied generations before Christ came. God wanted His Son to proclaim His Messiahship so clearly that the people could not mistake what He was doing.

III. (21:6-9) Jesus Received: The worship of the disciples and the crowds.

1. Jesus received the disciples worship (v.6-7):

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

They did just as Jesus said and He was now claiming His rights as a King and accepting their worship.

· (v.6) They did exactly what He asked despite the uncertainty of the matter. They had no money to buy or rent the animals, and they were to be questioned about why they wanted the animals. Yet they obeyed—not questioning, not doubting.

· (v.7) There was no saddle for their Lord, so they took their own coats and threw them across the animals.

Instead of riding the conqueror's stallion, He road in on a colt, a foal of a donkey

· There were actually two animals involved, the mother and the colt (foal). Jesus sat on the colt with the mother walking beside.

· This colt had never been ridden (). The presence of the mother helped, of course. But keep in mind who the rider was:You make him to rule over the works of Your hands, You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,(). The fact that Jesus rode this beast and kept him in control is another evidence of His kingship.

There are a couple lessons learned from the disciples’ worship:

· We are to worship to the Lord by obeying His commands. We are to trust and obey just as the two disciples did—not doubting or questioning.

· We are to worship the Lord by giving Him the best we have. We are to do as the disciples did, give Him the very best. The disciples gave what they had to minister. They gave the clothes they were wearing (cp. the widow's mite, ).

2. Jesus received the worship of the crowds (v.8-9)

8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!"

The very atmosphere was full of excitement Jesus made His entry. Enormous crowds were lining the roadway as Christ began His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We know this, first of all, because two million or more pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem every year for the Passover Feast. The Passover crowd was composed of the Jews who lived in Jerusalem, the crowd from Galilee, and the people who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead ().

Also, because of the news being spread throughout the city and surrounding area concerned the miracles, such as the raising of Lazarus from the dead (; ).

The Crowds honored Jesus as King when they took off their coats and cut down tree branches. They spread both out on the roadway to show Him that they received Him as the promised King of Israel. We know they received Him as Messiah by what they shouted:

· They shouted out "Hosanna" which means save now, or save, we pray.

· They called Him "the Son of David" which was the title of the Messiah

· They shouted out "Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord." This means blessed is He who is sent with the authority of God.

· They shouted out "Hosanna in the Highest" which means "God save, we pray. you who are in the Highest, save now through Him whom You have sent."

Like so many today, the people of Christ's day wanted earthly and material benefits, but nothing to do with His spiritual authority over our lives. We must have the right understanding of Jesus and come for the right reasons. We must welcome Christ as God's true Messiah and cry out, "Hosanna, save now, I pray O Lord."

So when should one cry out to the Lord for salvation? " Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—" (). NOW is the time!

IV. (21:10-11) Jesus Stirred : the Jewish leaders to act.

(The second reason for this public presentation)

10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

All the city was moved (eseisthē PWS: 2630), that is, shaken. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.” ().

Jesus public display at His triumphal entry forced the Jewish leaders to act. When they saw the spontaneous demonstration of the people, they concluded that Jesus had to be destroyed. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.” (). This demonstration of Christ’s popularity incited the rulers to act.

· The Romans sensed that a popular uprising might be in the making.

· The Herodians, who were the Jewish ruling party, feared they would be overthrown and lose their power.

· The Pharisees were stirred to new depths of envy and malice.

· The common people were convinced that their day of liberation had finally arrived in Jesus of Nazareth.

Conclusion: The prophetic Scriptures required that the Lamb of God be crucified on Passover. As Jesus made His triumphal entry, He was fully in control, carrying out the perfect will of the Father. His parade into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday had purpose. It was to fulfill the Messianic Prophecies of the scriptures, and to cause the Jewish leaders to act.

Jesus entered Jerusalem receiving the worship of both His disciples and the crowds. In just a week, those that had cried “Hosanna” would cry “crucify Him”.

Like the crowds of Jesus’ day, we have a decision to make when Jesus approaches us to worship Him. Will we worship in spirit and truth, giving Him all we have or will we only look to Him for material possessions.

When those around us are stirred to ask, "Who is this?" Let us share the scriptural truth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah

Introduction:

It is now the last week of Jesus’ life. Jesus was about to make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and demonstrate that He the very the Savior of the world.

Picture in you mind, just for a moment, the scene. Miles of parade route decorated with banners, streamers, and other decoration. The streets are overflow with people wanting just to get a glimpse of the one they have heard so much about. They are cheering for the one, that in their minds, is going to change the world and make it better.

Then they finally see the one whom you have been waiting . They are surrounded by their ante rage, riding in the flashiest vehicle, and happily waving to the crowd.

Now, let’s go back two-thousand and look at a very different parade.

It is now the last week of Jesus’ life. Jesus was about to make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and demonstrate that He the very the Savior of the world.

Now, before we talk about His triumphal entry into Jerusalem

Now, before we talk about Jesus’ purposeful parade, let’s take a few minutes to look at the background, leading up to it.

Now, before we talk about His triumphal entry into Jerusalem

Past sermons:

· () 1Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

 Jesus had taught about riches ()

Jesus predicts his death the third time ()

 Jesus teaches on greatness ()

Jesus at Jericho

Jesus heals Bartimaeus (; ; )

; 

Jesus stays with Zacchaeus and tells the parable of the 10 servants ()

; 

)Jesus stays with Zacchaeus and tells the parable of the 10 servants (

People talk about Jesus as Passover approaches

)People talk about Jesus as Passover approaches

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

People talk about Jesus as Passover approaches:

55 Now the Passover of the Jewswas at hand, and many went upfrom the country to Jerusalembefore the Passover to purifythemselves. 56 They were lookingfor Jesus and saying to oneanother as they stood in thetemple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feastat all?” 57 Now the chief priestsand the Pharisees had givenorders that if anyone knewwhere he was, he should letthem know, so that they mightarrest him.

Jesus at Bethany before the triumphal entry

It is now the last week of Jesus’ life. He had spent the night before (the Sabbath evening) in Bethany with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha; () 1Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

Objectives:

Today we are going to look at purpose of Jesus’ triumphal entry, the region, the responses He received, the reason for the peoples’ blindness.

· () 1Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

A woman anoints Jesus at Bethany (Matthew, Mark, John)(; ; )Religious leaders plot to kill Lazarus ()

The Region (v.1):

 Jesus teaches about richesJesus predicts his death the third time Jesus teaches on greatness Jesus at JerichoPeople talk about Jesus as Passover approachesJesus at Bethany before the triumphal entry

He had spent the night before (the Sabbath evening) in Bethany with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha: () 1Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 21

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Jerusalem is a very important city in scripture:

Location

JERUSALEM is the capital city of biblical Israel. It is located atop a limestone plateau in the Judaean Mountains, flanked by the Hinnom Valley to the southwest. The Kidron Valley is to the east, separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives.

The Old City of Jerusalem is located atop a limestone plateau in the Judaean Mountains, flanked by the Hinnom Valley to the southwest. The Kidron Valley is to the east, separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. In the center of the Old City, the Tyropoeon Valley divides the Western Hill (Mount Zion) from the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) (Josephus, Jewish War 5.140).

Jerusalem is central to each of the Gospels as:

the city that hosts the climax of Jesus’ work: his death and resurrection (; ; ; ; compare ).

Luke’s Gospel begins and ends in Jerusalem (1:8–23; 24:52–53).

Jesus is presented in the temple, and our only snapshot of his adolescent life is in the temple (2:22–23; 2:41–50).

Since it was Passover, there were probably about 2 million people in and around Jerusalem. This was the only time in His ministry that Jesus actually planned and promoted a public demonstration. Up to this time, He had cautioned people not to tell who He was, and He had deliberately avoided public scenes.

Since it was Passover, there were probably about 2 million people in and around Jerusalem.

Up to this time, Jesus had cautioned people not to tell who He was, and He had deliberately avoided public scenes because His time had not come ().

“So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come”.

Now, the time had come. Jesus was fully in control as he prepared to enter during this time of passover and become the sacrificial lamb, to once and for all cover the sins of the world.

2. Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives

BETHPHAGE (in Aram. ‘place of young figs’). A village on the Mount of Olives, on or near the road from Jericho to Jerusalem and near Bethany (; ; ). Its site is unknown.

3. The two disciples that were sent were not named.

The Response of the people (v.2-7)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 21

2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.

3 “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,

‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,

GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,

EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’ ”

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them,

7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

The response of the disciples (2-7):

Jesus had sent two of his disciple on a mission at the end of verse one. In verse two we see their orders. “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me”.

Many people believe that Jesus was showing His omniscience as He instructed the two disciples of the donkey and her colt they would find. Actually, this being a small village, it would not have been uncommon to find such animals tied.

(v.3) Jesus tells His disciples, “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

The man who would lend his animals could have been a disciple who would allow the Lord to borrow his animals. The emphasis, "The Lord has need of them," points rather strongly to this fact being at least part of what happened.

In verse four, we see the first purpose of what has taken place;Jesus was obeying the Word and fulfilling the prophecy recorded in :

Jesus was obeying the Word and fulfilling the prophecy recorded in :

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey,Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

He is just and endowed with salvation,

Humble, and mounted on a donkey,

Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This prophecy could apply only to Jesus Christ, for He is the only One with credentials that prove He is Israel’s King.

Let’s look at the donkey and colt:

There were actually two animals involved, the mother and the colt (foal). Jesus sat on the colt with the mother walking beside.

This colt had never been ridden (), yet he meekly bore his burden. The presence of the mother helped, of course. But keep in mind who the rider was:

You have put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen,

And also the beasts of the field,

You make him to rule over the works of Your hands, You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,().

The fact that Jesus rode this beast and kept him in control is another evidence of His kingship.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. (). The fact that Jesus rode this beast and kept him in control is another evidence of His kingship.

By comparing Matthew’s quotation with the original prophecy in Zechariah, we discover some interesting facts.

Zechariah’s prophecy opens with, “Rejoice greatly” but Matthew omitted this phrase. When Jesus approached the city, He wept! How could He (or the people) rejoice when judgment was coming?

Mathew also omitted “He is just and endowed with salvation.” Our Lord’s coming to Jerusalem was an act of mercy and grace, not an act of justice or judgment. He did have salvation for them, but they refused to accept it ().

The people would have been expecting the Messiah to come in on a stallion as conquering king to liberate them from the oppressive Roman government. Instead they saw Jesus meek and lowly riding in on a colt. The people did not realize that Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost.

The people did not realize that Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost.

The next time Israel sees the King, He will ride in great power and glory (). “ And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.”

The disciples demonstrated their faithfulness (v.6-7)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 21

The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them,

7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

2. The response of the crowds (v.8-9)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 21

8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.

9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 21

8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.

9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

The Passover crowd was composed of at least three groups: the Jews who lived in Jerusalem, the crowd from Galilee, and the people who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead ():

This prophecy could apply only to Jesus Christ, for He is the only One with credentials that prove He is Israel’s King.

2. The response of the crowds

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 12

17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.

18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.

Sharing the news of this miracle undoubtedly helped to draw such a large crowd. The people wanted to see this miracle-worker for themselves.

The palm branches will be seen again in worship:      After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

There was a second reason for this public presentation: It forced the Jewish leaders to act. When they saw the spontaneous demonstration of the people, they concluded that Jesus had to be destroyed (see ). The prophetic Scriptures required that the Lamb of God be crucified on Passover. This demonstration of Christ’s popularity incited the rulers to act.

The people acclaimed Jesus as their King both by their words and their deeds. They shouted Hosanna which means, “Save now!” They were quoting from , and this psalm is definitely messianic in character. Later that week, Jesus Himself would refer to this psalm and apply it to Himself (; ).

The Reason for Blindness:

the Jews still did not recognize Jesus as their King. What caused Israel’s spiritual blindness? For one thing, their religious leaders had robbed them of the truth of their own Word and had substituted man-made traditions (). The leaders were not interested in truth; they were concerned only with protecting their own interests (). “We have no king but Caesar!” was their confession of willful blindness. Even our Lord’s miracles did not convince them. And the longer they resisted the truth, the blinder they became ().

Conclusion: