The Triumphal Entry

Luke 19:28-40

The Triumphal Entry

This of course is Palm Sunday. A day that Christians around the world celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This is the start of the final week of Christ’s earthly life. The disciples knew something was up.

For the past 3 years, their teacher had been walking around the country or at times taking a boat to cross the sea. Never had he ridden a donkey. No doubt they remember the account of Solomon’s inauguration.

In 1 Kings 1:33, King David told his advisers to have his son Solomon ride on his mule to the local spring where the high priest and prophet will anoint him king. But even beyond this example, there are many Messianic prophecies regarding the King and his inauguration.

The people see their Messiah riding into Jerusalem on a donkey and become overwhelmed. They have their King who will conquer the holy city and rule over the Romans forever. The crowd starts to sing and shout and praise God.

We need to remember this was the Passover and this was and is a spiritually charged event. People from all over the country came to Jerusalem at this time to celebrate and to worship. But this time they came and saw their King ready to take the throne of His Kingdom. Or so they thought.

See, they saw what they wanted to see. They were tired of the Roman control. They were oppressed. They wanted to be a free nation again. They still felt like they were in captivity. They wanted their King to rule over the Romans.

As Jesus climbs the Mount of Olives the people are singing and shouting praise to Him. Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

The people were laying down their cloaks and palm branches for Him to ride over. They were prepared to make Him King. But if you remember, they wanted to make Him King a year before this when Jesus fed the 5,000.

These people wanted a King and here was the best candidate ever. He could provide for their physical needs and their spiritual needs. And when they saw Him riding the donkey, they knew this was the King!

As Jesus approaches the top of the mountain the crowd is at its loudest. Once over the crest of the mountain the temple is plain view. No doubt the priests that were at the temple preparing for the celebration saw all the activity and commotion of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.

The priests enter into panic mode. They look up and see their worst nightmare. There is Jesus, with the support of His people, acting like a King. They understand the implications of Jesus’ actions and the praise of the crowd.

The priests demand that Jesus stop the crowd from doing this. Jesus replies, “Their praise is accurate and inevitable.” The battle lines are drawn.

Not only would it surprise and anger the priests, but it would worry the Roman’s as well. Since this was a big festival, the Roman military had extra forces there to keep the crowd under control. They too are watching the same thing and are wondering what is going to happen.

We can’t blame the crowds for their ignorance about the true meaning of this event. Even the disciples who had been with Jesus throughout His ministry didn’t fully understand what was happening until after Jesus ascended into Heaven.

Today, we often say that Jesus came to be a spiritual ruler, not a political ruler. We also accuse the Jewish people of only wanting a political ruler. And both of those statements are true. Jesus was certainly a spiritual ruler and is also a political ruler.

Christ’s church is more than just a spiritual, religious institution. This is true today and this was true from the beginning. Many times in the book of Acts we see disciples of Christ come before political and religious rulers. They are beaten and executed for their beliefs.

The Church should create social and political tension. The issue is how the church operates in the social and political realm. Christ came not to set up a physical political kingdom. Rather He setup His Kingdom in the hearts of his followers.

Our agenda’s as Christians are carried out with love for others and are based on the truth of God’s Word. We do not come with muscles bulging and fists flying to get our way. We accomplish our goals with the cross of Christ, not with a sword of war.

Christians rule with their love for each other. We bring together all types of people. We break down the socio-economic barriers so that we may all become one with each other and one with Christ.

Sadly, by the end of the week, the people had rejected their King. They rejected the things that Jesus stood for. They rejected God’s offer of salvation. They rejected God Himself.

How about you? Do you reject the things Jesus stood for? Jesus stood for love, peace, joy, righteousness, and truth. While you may not outright reject those ideas, do you take them to the next level?

Do you live for those things and display those attributes in your life? Do you reach out to others who may not be on the same social or political wavelength with you? Do you reach out to them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christ will return again someday to judge those who have rejected Him. And not only those who have rejected Him but those who have rejected His ways and those who follow Him. Christ rules in the hearts of all believers today.

Is He ruling yours? When He returns again, He will rule over you one way or the other, so you better make sure you know what side you are one.

Many will cry out to Him saying, “Lord, Lord, we have done many things in your name. But Jesus will say to them, depart from me for I never knew you.” Those are words you do not want to hear.

Think about that this Holy week as you take time to rediscover Christ in your life.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for our time in your word this morning. We thank you for the lessons that you have taught us. We thank you for being our ruler. Help us to more fully understand the things that you want from us.

Help us to focus on you this Holy week and help us to carry out your will for our lives.

AMEN