THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY – LUKE 19:28-40
Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’”
So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?”
They answered, “The Master has need of it.”
So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen.
They proclaimed:
“Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest.”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd
said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He said in reply, “I tell you, if they
keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
WELCOMING THE KING, CRUCIFIED
Jesus is now near the end of the Journey to the Cross. He is fully aware of where he has come from, from God, and where he is going, back to God. So, what is he here to do? Why is Jesus on the Journey to the Cross?
Now Jesus is coming to Jerusalem, which was known as the City of David. David was the greatest king of God’s chosen people, Israel. God had promised David that his descendants would be kings forever. But this promise seemed to be broken when the kings following David were unfaithful to God, and eventually so corrupt that their kingdom was divided, and then conquered. For centuries Israel had been waiting for the new king, the Messiah, the one sent by God to restore his kingdom.
Now the people who welcome Jesus to Jerusalem, the City of David, are full of expectation that he is the Messiah. They welcome him triumphantly. The people lay their cloaks on the road to acknowledge their hope. The disciples, those who have already begun to follow him, proclaim that he is “the king who comes”. They are full of joy.
When we welcome Jesus into our hearts, and into our lives, we become his disciples. This is a joyful experience. But like those people in Jerusalem, our king, Jesus, is heading to the Cross. He will ask us to take up our own Cross, as we follow him. Jesus is a king indeed, but his throne is the Cross. He rules with love which he shows us by sacrificing his life for ours.
Following Jesus is our salvation, but it also an invitation to a life of sacrifice for others. When we journey with Jesus, we journey to the Cross: we are not promised prosperity, health, or even a quiet life. But we have joy and peace that nothing in this world can take a way, and the sure hope of heaven to come.