Jesus Prepares for the Cross Part 4 - Triumphal Entry

Today is the final in a series of messages we’ve titled Jesus Prepares for the Cross. Next week we’ll start a new series on the Joy of the resurrection and that will span at least 3 weeks.

The last 3 messages of this series were taken from the 17th chapter of John. It is known as the High priestly prayer, and we read how Jesus prayed for the glory of the Father to become evident in Him, then He prayed for the disciples and the message that they would bring, and then last week we talked through the last of the chapter where Jesus prayed for us.

As we read through this prayer, we determined that every part of that prayer has either been fulfilled is currently actively being fulfilled in us now. Another encouragement from that chapter is that Jesus currently sits at the right hand of the father is interceding on our behalf.

Today is the week before Easter, Resurrection Sunday. Next week, like most weeks, we will be celebrating the resurrection. Today is traditionally known as Palm Sunday. It is in reference to Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people praising Him as king and waving palm branches as he passed by. Let’s read the account from John about this event in John 12 starting in verse 12:

John 12:12–13 NIV

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Palm branches were very frequently used to celebrate a triumphant king returning from a victory. Palm branches symbolized goodness, well-being, grandeur, steadfastness and victory. They were used at times joy and triumph and were used by the nation of Israel on festive occasions. Palm branches are mentioned in Revelation as a honor to Jesus:

Revelation 7:9–10 NIV

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, they had heard what miracles Jesus had done and what he had taught. Based on their own understanding, they had assumed what role Jesus would play in entering Jerusalem. They thought he was there to overthrow the Romans, so they celebrated him. They said “Hosanna,” which literally means “give us salvation now.” He was preparing to provide them with salvation, just not in the way they thought.

The passage continues:

John 12:14–16 NIV

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

Again, like the palm branches, there is great symbolism in Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem. A ruler or a king riding a donkey into town symbolizes peace. In 1 Kings 1, Solomon rode on a donkey to his recognition ceremony as the new king of Israel after David. David was a man of war and conquest in contrast to his son Solomon who was king during the most peaceful time in Israel’s history.

It was also important that Jesus came to Jerusalem on a donkey…let’s read the prophecy in Zechariah 9 in verse 9:

Zechariah 9:9 NIV

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

There are 3 qualities of the King who would fulfill this prophecy:

He is righteous.

Jesus is the only person to have walked this earth without sin. No other man has or ever could fulfill this. Jesus and Jesus alone is righteous.

He is victorious.

Only Jesus was able to overcome the power of death and sin. Only Jesus could set captives free. Only Jesus, as is foreshadowed in verse 10, could establish his kingdom to the ends of the earth. Many have tried, but only Jesus is able.

He is Humble (or lowly)

Jesus came as God in flesh, He did not fully use the powers that he had while he was in human form. Instead of striking down, he healed and encouraged, he loved and had compassion. A prideful ruler would have made it all about him and his needs instead of the needs of common folks like Lazarus and his ragtag bunch of disciples.

Speaking of Lazarus, let’s keep reading:

John 12:17–19 NIV

17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Now we hear about how the word spread about Jesus. Those who had been him when he performed one of his most amazing miracles when He raised Lazarus from the dead were spreading the word about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It was a Bible times version of going viral. Many people went out to see Jesus and to meet him as a result of what He did.

Then we get the result of this word spreading and people following:

“See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him.”

The Pharisees were already threatened by Jesus and his teachings and now Jesus comes into town like the prophecy foretold and they are even more upset. I imagine they had an idea on how this Jesus coming to town would look, and I don’t think this is how they saw it going down.

Just days before he would hang on the cross, Jesus comes into town celebrated by many, but really this celebration was only on the surface. There may have been many cheering and shouting praises, but they didn’t fully understand the reason for the praise. They were really just going along with the rest of the crowd.

Oh, how we see this in our day today. He who speaks with the best sounding agenda and the agenda that fulfills my needs, that person I will follow. Church we can’t be like this. If we are easily swayed by our emotions, then our convictions change as quickly as the weather. Our convictions must be grounded on the truth of God’s Word and who Jesus is and what He is asking from us. We can’t just take the salvation without the call to holiness. We can’t just take the healing without the call to evangelize. People who pick and choose what to believe and not to believe from God’s Word are nothing more than Pharisees who look to take God’s Word and bend it to their needs.

How does the triumphal entry of Jesus prepare Him for the cross? I have a few observations...

Jesus fulfills prophecy by coming the way he did.

He didn’t come to be a conqueror…yet. When He comes again, all his enemies will fall, but his first coming was to reconcile us back to him. In order to reconcile us, there had to be a payment for sin...

We are all sinners and as such, we deserve death, but Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. We need only to confess him as Lord and believe that what he did on the cross and in the resurrection is sufficient.

Jesus coming revealed a tendency in man to be fickle

On Sunday, they should and praise Him. A few days later they are nowhere to be found. Not one would stand up for Him and demand he be released.

We should guard against fair weather Christianity. Either we love Him with all, or we don’t love him at all.

The praises and shouts of joy hardened the resolve of the Pharisees to kill Jesus

The Pharisees already wanted Jesus dead. See people give him honor only deepened their anger for Him.

There was no other way for them to act than to see Jesus suffer humiliation and death in the harshest way possible. Their goal was to squash any thought of continuing to follow Jesus. They wanted to make an example of him.

We’ve been spending time talking about how Jesus got ready for the Cross. The cross was the destination all along. From the moment He entered Jerusalem, he did not waste a single moment as he prepared for the cross.

He taught His disciples about what would happen - He didn’t want them to forget.

He washed His disciples feet and told them to serve others likewise.

He shared a meal with His disciples and told of the new covenant.

He comforted His disciples and told them a Comforter would comfort them as well.

He taught them about abiding in Him so they would not fall away.

He told them that a joy was coming that would be beyond understanding.

He prayed for His disciples and prayed for us and continues to pray for us.

That is how Jesus prepared for the cross. That is what Jesus, the Son of God, did on his way to the cross. At some point our life will transition from this life here and now to a life of eternity - either in Heaven or Hell. Will we spend this short life here like Jesus and prepare for what is next? Will we:

Teach others about Jesus?

Serve others like Jesus?

Break bread with others?

Point others to the comforter?

Abide with Jesus?

Rejoice in the joy we have?

Pray for those around us?

That is the example Jesus gave us - will we follow?