What Is So Triumphant About the Triumphal Entry?

Luke 19:28-48

Luke 19:28-48 What Is So Triumphant About the Triumphal Entry?

We will be looking today at Luke 19:28-48. Happy Palm Sunday. We call this Palm Sunday for a reason. When Jesus road into Jerusalem people waved palm branches and laid them on the road for his donkey to walk on. That’s what day this is but what do we call the event that happened on this day; what happened on Palm Sunday? Many of your Bibles may tell you the answer to my question right there before verse 28. Not every Bible says this but some have, between verses 27 and 28 the words; TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. That is what we commonly call the event that occurred on Palm Sunday. So today we are going to look at the Triumphal Entry? I titled this sermon; “What Is So Triumphant About the Triumphal Entry? Let’s pray then we will get started.

Most of our reading this morning comes from Luke 19:28-48 but interspersed in this reading are verses from Matthew 21, Mark 11 and John 12 so that we can see the full story as it unfolds. Luke 19:28-48 28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. (Matthew 21:4-5) 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.’ ”[1] 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. (Matthew 21:8) 8others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.[2] (Luke 19) 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Matthew 21:9) Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”[3] (Mark 11:9-10) Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”[4] (John 12:13) Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”[5] (Luke 19) 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” 45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” 47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.[6]

There is much here to look at but I just want to draw out a few things. First we need to see that Jesus revealed the He was the long awaited Messiah before He ever rode into Jerusalem as the King. He sent two disciples to get a donkey that was tied up and waiting for Him and all they had to do to get it was say that the Lord has need of it. Some will try to teach that Jesus had prearranged this use of the colt and it was not at all supernatural but I have to disagree. There were other times that Jesus did similar things. He told Peter to throw the net on the other side of the boat for a catch; and the fish were there. He sent Peter to catch a fish that would have a coin in its mouth; the fish and the coin were there. Other places we are told that Jesus knew what was in the heart of man before they spoke. With these as evidence it is not at all difficult to believe that Jesus knew where the donkey colt was and sent His disciples to get it. That is why we read in this account: the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen. They had seen His work as the Messiah and now they were proclaiming Him to be the King of Israel. And in riding in on the donkey He was demonstrating that He was the long awaited Messiah/King. Matthew and John make it clear that riding that donkey into Jerusalem was the fulfillment of the King coming into Jerusalem by literally living out what is stated in Zechariah 9:9-10 that the King would come riding on a donkey to reign in righteousness bringing with Him salvation for His people and in reigning He would bring peace to His people and the world. On this day of the Triumphal Entry and throughout His ministry Jesus had made it clear that He was the long awaited Messiah/King of Israel and the world.

So the people who were in Jerusalem for the Passover recognized Him as their king. ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Matthew 21:9) Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”[7] (Mark 11:9-10) Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”[8] (John 12:13) Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” All the way through Jesus’ ministry, when someone would recognize Who He was, or when He would perform a healing or a miracle He would instruct people not to tell anyone what they had seen or what He had done or who He was. It was clear why that was the case; it was not yet His time. But now the time has come. When the people began proclaiming Jesus as the King of Israel the religious leaders demanded that Jesus quiet them down. But Jesus made it clear that it was now His time, because He stated clearly that not only would these disciples proclaim Him King but all of nature (the rocks would cry out); all of nature would do the same if the disciples were silent.

So the Messiah King has finally made it to the royal city. The first thing I would expect Him to do would be to make a speech demanding fealty of all. But that is not at all what He did. While people on the road to town were praising Him as the Messiah/King Jesus stopped and looked out over the city of the King and wept for those who, in just a few days, would reject Him and in a four decades would suffer the consequences when the Empire of Rome destroyed Jerusalem. Jesus knew what was going to happen in a few days and yet His concern was for others. We know He knew what was going to happen because in Mark 10:45 He said: 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”[9] He could have demanded worship but instead He wept over those who rejected Him. The new Messiah/King did not condemn His enemies, He wept over them.

He is recognized as the new Messiah/King demonstrated by His acts of wonder. He has put His stamp of approval on the worship and praise the people were giving Him because His time has come. Instead of condemning His enemies He wept over their coming destruction. Now I guess it is time for Him to go to His palace and be crowned as King. But there is no coronation yet. Instead He goes to the Temple of the living God and cleansed it of false religion. 45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” The Temple had become a place of pagan worship defined by “do the right things and god will be happy with you and bless you”, instead of; You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. The Messiah/King’s purpose was to see that God was worshiped above all. Oh and as to the crown, it will come in just a few days but it will be a crown of thorns.

In the Zechariah 9 passage we talked about a minute ago it is clear that the King would come to His city having salvation for His people. When the people shouted Hosanna they were literally crying “save us now”. But He did not come to save them from Rome as they supposed, He came to save them from sin and its curse. Instead of a forced reign His purpose was to change hearts. Instead of destroying His enemies He destroyed the curse of sin, but that will be in another week.

So looking at this account of what happened on Palm Sunday I have to wonder why it is called the Triumphant Entry. Knowing what I know about the coming events of this week, Jesus’ arrest, trials, beating, humiliation and then His crucifixion I have to ask what is so Triumphant about this entry into Jerusalem? I’m glad I asked that question.

Sure He rode into town on a lowly donkey being proclaimed the king. But one day according to Revelation 19:11-16 He won’t be riding a donkey. 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS[10] He will come again, not to save but to judge.

Yes when He rode in on that donkey some praised Him and acknowledged Him as king. But later on that week called for His crucifixion. Some, the religious leaders, even sought to silence Him from the beginning. But one day that will all change: Philippians 2:8-11 He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[11] And as Revelation 19:16 says He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Five days after His ride into Jerusalem He was crowned with a crown of thorns and hung on a cross, but soon He will wear many crown as we saw in Revelation 19. The reverend James Smith predecessor of Charles Spurgeon said it best about His crowns: “Jesus passed through many trials, engaged in many conflicts; therefore he gained many triumphs, and now wears many crowns. He wears the crown of victory, for every foe is, or will be overthrown. He wears the crown of sovereignty, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He wears the crown of creation, for all things were made by him, and for him. He wears the crown of providence, for he sustains, supplies, and rules all that he has made. He wears the crown of grace, for he redeemed his people by his blood, he conquers them by his Spirit, moulds them by his truth, and will bring them all to his kingdom. He wears the crown of glory, for every one of his glorified people owe their honor, happiness, and blessedness, to him. He is crowned by his Father with a splendid diadem, and every knee must bow to him. Every one of his people crown him, and cast their crowns at his feet as unworthy to wear them in his presence. His crown is the brightest that ever wisdom devised, mercy jewelled, or power brightened. O to gaze upon his glory, and to see on his once thorn-pierced brow, the many crowns!” He is crowned King and one day those who follow Him will see the glory of His crowns.

There is much more to say but let me stop on this one. When Jesus was riding into Jerusalem and overlooked the city of God He wept. He knew He would be finally rejected and those who rejected Him would suffer the consequences. Since He is God He could have condemned them on the spot and even called down fire from heaven to destroy them. But instead He wept over those who would kill Him. He wept over the lost. The greatest triumph of the reign of Christ is that He cared more for those who hated Him than He did for His own life. Romans 5:8-11 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.[12]

The greatest triumph of all was the fact that Christ died for sinners. Since He did not condemn them but wept over their loss how should we respond to that? Do we condemn the sinner? No, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and five days later was crucified not for condemnation but for salvation. He didn’t save them from Rome as they had hoped but praise God He saved all who would believe from sin and the curse of sin. Because He reconciled us to God we must be as 2 Corinthians 5:20 says - ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.[13]

What was so Triumphal about the entry into Jerusalem? The Triumphal Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem brought about the Triumph of the cross that redeemed sinners and reconciled us to God. Live in that triumph as sinners saved by the blood of Christ. Let’s pray.

[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 21:4–5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 21:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[3] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 21:9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mk 11:9–10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[5] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 12:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[6] The New King James Version. (1982). (Lk 19:28–48). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[7] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 21:9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[8] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mk 11:9–10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[9] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mk 10:45). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[10] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 19:11–16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[11] The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 2:8–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[12] The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 5:8–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[13] The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Co 5:20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.