Triumphal Entry

We Love a Parade

Have you ever been asked to be the Grand Marshall of a parade? If so, how did it make you feel to be out in front, or at least honored? What was the journey like from your early beginnings until your great position of Grand Marshall?

I believe that Jesus knew that the people needed to see his triumphal entry, yet I believe that he was very humble in his attempt to give them the parade that they needed. How can we humble ourselves at times when we are put on stage center?

Jesus has a couple messages for his disciples in this passage. The first is concerning the colt that he would ride into Jerusalem.

(NRSV)

30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

(NRSV)

31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” This statement speaks, I think, to the idea that Jesus was very receptive to the world around him, especially the people and how they received him. Notice that Jesus knows exactly where to find the colt. But more than that he seems to be very sure that they will give the colt without any argument except to know that the Lord requires the use of it. What does this tell you about the owners of this colt? They were followers of the Christ.

Jesus, I believe, knew the people of the community because he paid close attention to them when he was out in the mission field.

(NRSV)

35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. So, imagine if you will, that you are the Grand Marshall in your parade. A parade thrown just in your honor. How are you feeling right now? (NRSV)

37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, So as you flow by the people in the crowd, they keep praising you and dropping flowers on the road in front of you. Notice that I spoke of flowers, mainly because it is not a tradition for us to throw Palm branches. Back then that was the tradition. Luke does not mention the branches. We have to assume that perhaps there were palm branches. What I want to focus on is the multitudes of disciples that were congregating. Who knew? As we discover things in our Bibles, we discover that what we hear about the most is the twelve disciples that followed Jesus. But did we ever think of the owners of the colt as a disciple? It appears that he surely was a disciple, because Jesus tells them to say that the Lord has need of it and they agree.

Notice this if you notice nothing else, those who were supporters, followers, disciples, are those praising his name, and lifting him up. Those who are not followers, demand that he make his followers to be quiet.

(NRSV)

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” (NRSV)

40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”