And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at 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 that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
(Luke 19:28-40)
What an amazing turn of events took place on Sunday before the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As they drew near Jerusalem, the Lord sent two of His disciples to get a colt. According to Mark and Luke it was a male donkey. If you know anything about horses and donkeys, you know the male is harder to gentle down that a filly – female. This donkey had never been ridden and yet he offered no resistance. Unlike mankind, he yielded himself to the will of the his creator.
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. (Isaiah 1:3)
Matthew tells us this was done in fulfillment to Scripture.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)
This reminds us of David having Solomon to ride his (David’s) donkey into Jerusalem to be anointed king when Adonijah tried to seize the throne. “A greater than Solomon is here.”
As they begin to descend the Mount of Olives, the people begin to rejoice and hail the Lord as King.
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. (Psalm 118:26)
Some of the Pharisees became upset and wanted the Lord to rebuke the people. However, the Lord told them that if the people were to stop, the stones would cry out.
As He beheld the city of Jerusalem, He began to weep and tell them what was going to happen to the city.
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. This is not the first time His heart went out to Jerusalem. (Luke 13:34-35)
Forty years later the city of Jerusalem was destroyed. The ancient city we see there now in only a thousand years old.
We see Him coming to his own city, His own temple and His own people, but they ultimately rejected Him.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)
God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. (Psalms 118:27)
I. WHY DID THE PEOPLE RESPOND TO HIM THIS WAY?
- Did they realize He was very God in human flesh?
- Did they believe he was a descendent of David and the King of Israel?
- Were they interested in learning how to serve God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength?
- Maybe some of them, but for the most part, no.
- Were they looking for someone to deliver them from Rome? Perhaps.
- On one occasion he had fed five thousand and on another he had fed four thousand besides all the other miracles He had done, don’t you think they were hoping to be fed or see some great miracle? Could be and He did heal many.
- He also cleansed the Temple for the second time in His ministry and taught them the true ways of God for a few days, which displeased many of the religious crowd.
And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. (Luke 19:45-48)
II. WHAT HAPPENED THEN?
- Judas betrayed Him.
Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. (Luke 22:1-6)
- A few days after His triumphant entry He was arrested.
Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. (Matthew 26:46-50)
- He was tried three times by the Jews, once before Annas, once before Caiaphas and once before the Sanhedrin.
- He was denied by Peter.
- He was tried three times by the Romans, first before Pilot, then before Herod Antipas and again before Pilot.
- Some of the same crowd that hailed Him King, cried for His crucifixion.
But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. (Mark 15:9-15)
- He was crucified and buried.
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 19:38-42)
III. THE TWO WAYS.
And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. (Mark 11:4)
- You are standing at the crossroads today.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
- What will you do with King Jesus?
- Will you follow Him or will you turn unto your own way?
Leave a Reply