The Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

On purpose. “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples” (21:1). Jesus had already told His disciples what would happen in Jerusalem. He would be put to death, “and the third day He will rise again” (Matthew 20:19). He went anyway. He came to Jerusalem on purpose. He knew. Jesus told the two disciples exactly what they would find: “a donkey tied, and a colt with her” (21:2). Nothing about that day surprised Him. Jesus knows all things. The Lord has need of them. If anyone asked, they were to say, “The Lord has need of them” (21:3). Jesus called Himself the Lord. He is Lord of everything, even a donkey tied up in a small village. Luke tells more. Luke says the owners did ask, “Why are you loosing the colt?” The disciples answered just as Jesus had told them, and they brought the colt to Jesus (Luke 19:33-35). They obeyed. “So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them” (21:6). They did not know the whole plan, but they trusted Jesus enough to do what He said. Given to the Lord. The owners let the animals go when they heard that the Lord needed them. Jesus can use whatever we give Him: our time, our hands and even the things we own. What we learn. Trust Jesus when you cannot see the whole plan. When His Word tells you what to do, do it, the way the two disciples did.

Bethphage (21:1). “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples.” Luke names Bethphage and Bethany together, “at the mountain called Olivet” (Luke 19:29). Walking toward the cross. On the road up to Jerusalem, Jesus had told the twelve, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed” (Matthew 20:18). He ended with these words: “And the third day He will rise again” (20:19). He went on knowing all of it. He knew the details (21:2). “Immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.” Jesus knew the place, the animals and the question the owners would ask. The day was in His hands. Kyrios (21:3). “The Lord has need of them.” The Greek word is kyrios (say: KOO-ree-os), Lord. It is the word the Greek Old Testament used for God's own name, and Jesus used it for Himself. Luke's account. Luke 19:33-34 records the moment. The owners asked, “Why are you loosing the colt?” and the disciples answered, “The Lord has need of him.” Did as commanded (21:6). “So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.” Their part was simple obedience, given before they understood what it meant. Understood later. John writes, “His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him” (John 12:16). Obedience often comes before understanding. For you. You will not always see why God asks something of you. Do what His Word says anyway, and trust Him with the parts you cannot see yet.

Jesus was almost at Jerusalem. He knew what would happen there that week. He would die on the cross and rise again. Still, Jesus kept going toward the city. He sent two followers to get a donkey and a colt. Jesus knew right where the animals would be. He told them what to say if anyone asked. They were to say, “The Master needs them.” Jesus is the Master and the Lord of all. The two followers did just what Jesus said. They did not know the whole plan, but they obeyed. You can trust Jesus and obey Him too. He always knows what He is doing.

Jesus knew just where the donkey was. His helpers did what He said. You can trust Jesus and obey Him too.

Promised long before. “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet” (21:4). Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Zechariah wrote, “Behold, your King is coming to you” (Zechariah 9:9). The daughter of Zion. “Tell the daughter of Zion” (21:5) means tell the people of Jerusalem. Zion was another name for Jerusalem, the city of God's people. Your King. Jesus is not only a teacher or a good man. He is the King God promised, and He came to His own people. Lowly. The King would come “Lowly, and sitting on a donkey” (21:5). Lowly means humble and gentle. Jesus did not come to show off. He came to serve and to save. The donkey and the colt. “They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them” (21:7). Matthew tells us the disciples brought both the mother donkey and her colt. God keeps His word. God made a promise, and it came true down to the last detail. Every promise God makes is true. What we learn. Jesus is a King you can come close to. Bring Him your worries and your sins. He is gentle with everyone who comes to Him.

Fulfilled (21:4). “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet.” The prophecy comes from Zechariah 9:9. Its opening line echoes Isaiah 62:11, which tells the daughter of Zion that her salvation is coming. The daughter of Zion. Zion was the hill of Jerusalem, and the daughter of Zion means the people of the city. The King was coming to His own people. Your King (21:5). “Behold, your King is coming to you.” Jesus did not wait to be crowned by the crowd. He came as the King God had already promised. Praus. “Lowly, and sitting on a donkey.” The Greek word for lowly is praus (say: prah-OOSS), gentle or humble. Jesus used the same word for the meek in Matthew 5:5. The donkey and the colt (21:7). “They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.” Mark, Luke and John tell of the colt that Jesus rode (Luke 19:35; John 12:14), and Matthew also tells of the mother donkey that came with it. Not by force. Jesus came into the city of David without an army. His way to the throne would go through the cross, where He would give His life for His people. For you. Jesus' gentleness is not weakness. It is the strength of a King who does not crush the weak. Come to Him honestly, because He receives the humble.

Long before, God gave a prophet a message. The prophet's name was Zechariah. Zechariah said a King would come to Jerusalem. He said the King would be gentle and humble. This King would ride on a donkey's colt. Hundreds of years later, Jesus rode a colt into Jerusalem! God's promise came true, just as He said. Jesus did not come to scare people. He came to save them. He is a King you can come close to. He is never too busy for a child. God always keeps His promises. You can trust every word He says.

Long ago God promised a gentle King. Jesus is that King! He rode a young donkey, just as God said.

Clothes on the road. “And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road” (21:8). Long before, when Jehu was made king, the men with him spread their garments under him (2 Kings 9:13). Spreading clothes on the road was most likely a way to honor Jesus as King. Branches. “Others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” John tells us that some of the branches came from palm trees (John 12:13). Before and behind. The crowds “who went before and those who followed” (21:9) all praised Him together. Jesus was surrounded by praise. Hosanna. They cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Hosanna is a Hebrew word that means save now. It was a cry for help and a shout of praise at the same time. Son of David. God had promised that a King would come from David's family. By calling Jesus the Son of David, the crowds were calling Him that promised King. In the name of the Lord. They shouted words from Psalm 118: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” To come in the name of the Lord means to come from God, sent by Him and speaking for Him. Hosanna in the highest! This was praise sent up to God in heaven. The shout on the road went all the way to the throne of God. What we learn. Praise Jesus out loud. Sing to Him, thank Him, and tell others that He is the King who saves.

Clothes on the road (21:8). “And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road.” When Jehu was proclaimed king, the men with him put their garments under him and blew the trumpet (2 Kings 9:13). The crowd was most likely honoring Jesus in the same kind of way. Branches. Matthew says “branches from the trees.” John adds that the people “took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him” (John 12:13). Hosanna (21:9). “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The word comes from the prayer of Psalm 118:25, which asks the Lord to save now. The crowd shouted it as praise, but it still carried its meaning: save us. Son of David. The title names the King God promised from David's family. Blind Bartimaeus had cried it out near Jericho (Mark 10:47). Now a whole crowd shouted it. Psalm 118:26. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” To come in the Lord's name is to come from Him and with His authority. Luke records the cry as “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). In the highest. “Hosanna in the highest!” The praise rose from the road to heaven itself. Luke adds, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38). Why so many? John tells us that many people had heard that Jesus raised Lazarus, and they went out to meet Him because of that sign (John 12:17-18). Praise spreads when people hear what Jesus has done. For you. Your praise matters to God. Tell others what Jesus has done for you. Your praise may help someone else come to Him.

A big crowd came to see Jesus. Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees. They put the branches on the road too. The people were honoring Jesus as their King. They shouted, “Praise to the Son of David!” Son of David was a name for God's promised King. The word they shouted was Hosanna. Hosanna means save us now. It was a prayer and a shout of praise together. That same week, Jesus would save people by dying on the cross. Then He would rise again! You can praise Jesus with your voice too.

The people put coats and branches on the road. They shouted praise to God for Jesus! You can praise Jesus with your voice too.

A city stirred. “And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (21:10). The whole city was stirred up when Jesus came. The crowd's answer. “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee” (21:11). That was true. Jesus spoke God's words, and He grew up in the town of Nazareth. Even more. But Jesus is more than a prophet. He is the Lord (21:3), the promised King (21:5) and the Son of David (21:9). Most of all, He is God's own Son. The same week. Only a few days later, a crowd in the same city would call for Him to be crucified (Matthew 27:22-23). Jesus knew what was coming, and He still came, because He came to give His life for sinners. He rose. Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day. The King who rode a donkey is alive, and He reigns forever. Your answer. Everyone has to answer the city's question: Who is this? It is the most important question you will ever answer. What we learn. Know who Jesus really is. Tell Jesus that He is your Lord and your King. Then tell a friend who He is.

Eseisthe (21:10). “All the city was moved.” The Greek word is eseisthe (say: eh-SAYS-theh), from seio, to shake. It belongs to the same word family as the Greek word for an earthquake. Jerusalem was shaken by the coming of Jesus. Who is this? The question went through the whole city. Everyone who saw Jesus ride in had to decide who He is. The crowds' answer (21:11). “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Every word of it was true, but it was not the whole truth. The whole answer. These verses have already shown more. Jesus is the Lord (21:3), the King of Zechariah's prophecy (21:5) and the Son of David (21:9). The angels told the shepherds He is “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). That same week. Only days later, a crowd in the same city would call for Him to be crucified (Matthew 27:22-23). God wants more than loud praise on one day. He wants a heart that trusts Him every day. He came anyway. Jesus knew all of it before He sent for the colt. He rode in to give His life, and on the third day He rose again. A question for everyone. The city's question is still asked today in every school, family and town. No one can stay neutral about Jesus for long. For you. Answer the question with your life. Trust Jesus as your Savior, follow Him as your King, and tell others who He is.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The whole city was excited. People asked, “Who is this man?” The crowd said He was Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth. That was true, but Jesus is even more. He is God's own Son. He is the King God promised long ago. That same week, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. On the third day, He rose again! Every person must answer the question, “Who is this?” You can answer it too. You can tell Jesus that He is your Savior and King!

The people asked, “Who is this man?” Jesus is God's Son and our King. He died for us and rose again!

The Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

🎉 All Matched!