This coming Sunday is known to us as Palm Sunday, the Christian celebration of the Christ’s triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, which likely took place on the Sunday just prior to His crucifixion. On that day, many of His disciples lined the road in joyous celebration as they watched Him ride a donkey down the Mount of Olives from Bethpage or Bethany until He entered the city of Jerusalem by the eastern gate. As He was descending the Mount of Olives many took their clothes and spread them on the road before Him and others took palm branches and went out to greet Him (see John 12:13). Another gospel (Mark 11:8) says they took these branches and laid them before Him. This is why it is known as Palm Sunday.
The palm branch in ancient cultures was considered a symbol of triumph, victory and peace. It also represents eternal life to the Christian. You can see this in Revelation 7:9, where multitudes are gathered in heaven before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
This event was obviously considered very significant to the gospel writers, as it appears in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-22; Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:29-38 and John 12:12-15). In fact, it was very important to Jesus also, as He is seen actively orchestrating the whole event, telling two of His disciples in Matthew 21:2 to “Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them and bring them unto Me.” Once the donkey had been brought to Him, He took His seat and rode it into the city to a raucous welcome that all in the area could not help but hear. Jesus had made sure that He would be welcomed this way, having just recently raised Lazarus from the dead, guaranteeing that much attention would be focused on Him when He arrived (see John 12:17-19).
This triumphal entry was done, as it says in Matthew 21:4-5, in order to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 that says, “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.” But I believe He had a specific reason for doing it at this time.
Some have hinted that Jesus was presenting Himself to the nation and that if the Jews had just received Him, He would have took His place at that time on the throne of David and began to reign; and the destruction of the city could have been avoided. That might have been true, except for one fact. Jesus, being God, knew they would reject Him and He had repeatedly disclosed this fact to His Apostles (see Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:18-19). He also knew that the time for Him to die had come (John 12:23-24, 27-28; 13:26-31). So I believe what Jesus was doing, both by raising Lazarus from the dead and by causing this commotion around His open declaration to being their Messiah, was designed to provoke the authorities to action, so that they would do what God had foreordained from the beginning; having them arrest His Son and place Him on the cross to pay for the sins of His people.
No, Jesus was not a victim. He was in full control of all that occurred at all times to bring about His Father’s will. We see this again when He cited another of Zechariah prophecies that led to Him predicting Peter’s denial of Him in Matthew 26:31-34. At that time, He told them, “…, All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’ (from Zechariah 13:7). “But after I have been raised, “I will go before you into Galilee” (NKJV). Yes, He controlled everything from beginning to end, and because He did, He was able to secure our salvation. Hallelujah!!!
For God’s glory and His alone,
Pastor Terry.