The Triumphal Entry of Jesus ~ Matthew 21:1-11

           

Jerusalem…the city of the great king, the center of Israel’s religious life, and hope for a savior. Jerusalem is where Jesus came to have his coronation, to have His triumphal entry, just like every other earthly king before Him. This is also where Jesus came to culminate 30 years of obscurity and 3 plus years of ministry. It all ends here. He came to begin the last week of His life and He would never leave Jerusalem.

            The overall theme and message of the book of Matthew is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of David, and the long-predicted Messiah. When we arrive at chapter 21, we arrive at Jerusalem. Now for a long time God’s people the Israelites had been expecting a Savior, a Messiah, a King. He came but not like most people thought He would. Some were looking for a Samson type of dude who was like an Old Testament, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with long hair and a donkey’s jawbone for a weapon. Others were looking for a man like King David who was skilled in leadership like many modern day CEO’s, Governors, or military men. But instead this humble, poorly dressed, quiet man comes riding in on a donkey’s colt walking on a bunch of branches. Can you picture it? This is not how we would expect a king to enter his reign, but this is exactly how Jesus did it. See Samson, David, and others, though they were great men and very talented in leadership and strength, could not provide permanent rest and peace to their people. No, it required the death of a perfect God willing to take the form of a humble servant and be the last rather than the first, ultimately taking on the punishment for our sin and rebellion against God, punishment that we should have been given (Philippians 2:5-11).

            Verse 9 tells us that the crowds who went before Him and that followed him into Jerusalem were shouting in praise “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Then verses 10-11 tell us that when they arrived the people in Jerusalem were asking, “Who is this?” And the crowds responded, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth, of Galilee.”
            These crowds were excited to be shouting out the name of Jesus Christ! We wouldn’t necessarily do it like that today but we should be excited about the work of Christ in our lives and through His church. I hope you are excited about the triumphal entry of Christ into your heart and life just as these crowds were. It’s easy to get hyped up about what we love right? Think about the things that have been brought into your life that you love…music, cars, TV’s, movies, books, computers, sports, family, and friends, or whatever. It’s okay to enjoy and even love those things but do your treasure and worship them more than Jesus Christ? It’s interesting to note that Jesus entered Jerusalem on Monday, which is traditionally the day the Jews hunted the lamb that they would sacrifice to God. But this Monday, the true and final lamb arrived who offered himself up as a final sacrifice to God on our behalf for our good and God’s glorification.

Implications:

1. Does your life reveal that Jesus has or has not entered your life similar to what He did that Monday in Jerusalem? Do you treasure Christ and His Gospel in the minutes and hours of your day-to-day life? Do you recognize that His coronation at Jerusalem was for the true future King? Does your life reveal that He is the one you worship?

2. In Matthew 9:10-12, 13b Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Do you see yourself as among the spiritually sick? Do you see yourself as a Christian who desperately needs to grow in sanctification or do you believe that you’re going to be ok just the way you are? How does this show itself in how you interact with your family? With members of your church? With non-Christians? Does it produce humility and love for others, seeing them as fellow strugglers in need of Christ?

3. Are you looking to Jesus for material blessings such as making this earthly life easier, money, power, etc? Maybe you’re looking to Christ’s mysterious entry into your life as a get out of hell free ticket?

4. Christ’s coming is so much more than salvation. It’s finding joy in obedience to His commands and living like Him through all of life. Have you accepted Christ into your heart and life? If so, do you share the Gospel with your friends, co-workers, and family through your actions and your words?