Sunday

A Sign for Future Generations

Since He was already committed to the crucifixion, why did Jesus bother with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem? He could just as well have turned Himself over to the Jewish authorities to save time and effort. Jesus didn’t need to stir up the hornets’ nest; they were already determined to do Him in.

The reason: to make it plain to all the people of Israel, and to history, that He was the expected Messiah, the Son of David, whose intention, consistent with the prophecies of Isaiah chapters 9, 11, 42, 60, and 61, was to inaugurate a glorious godly Kingdom on the earth at that time. He knew the triumphal entry wouldn’t sway the Jewish leaders or move the people for long, but for the sake of His disciples and future generations, He wanted to make his point.

One prophecy of the Messiah’s coming, known throughout Israel, was in Zechariah 9:9, which is quoted in the story of the triumphal entry in Matthew 21:5: “Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” 

What is not quoted in Matthew, but which Zechariah goes on to say in verse 10, is God saying that “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off [world peace will be achieved]. And He [Jesus] will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus was making the point that, despite His humiliating death by crucifixion, He was the long-awaited Davidic Messiah who could have built the Kingdom of Heaven on earth at that time, given the Israelites’ support.

How This Helps Us Have a Real Relationship With the Real Jesus

What we come to know from the triumphal entry is that Jesus was the Messiah whom God intended to be the world ruler, in love, with His dominion stretching “to the ends of the earth.” 

Knowing this, we can understand how Jesus must have ached to accomplish God’s will to build His Kingdom of love on earth, and how He must have despaired over finding so little faith in Him.

Spiritual Exercises

●   Spend time in prayer envisioning Christ’s dominion extending “to the ends of the earth,” characterized by love, justice, and peace. Pray for all nations and peoples to come under the gentle and loving authority of Jesus (who will be with us forever in spirit) and his Returning Lord successor—who, as scripture tells us, will be a different person, with a new name, a human being born on earth (Revelation 2:17, 3:12, 12:5, 19:12). Ask God to use you as an instrument in bringing about this reality in your own sphere of influence.

●   Contemplate Jesus’ disappointment and anguish over the lack of faith He encountered. Reflect on how Jesus was enthusiastically received by ordinary Israelites during the first two years of his ministry and how subsequent events led to His crucifixion. Spend time meditating on Jesus’ heart, imagining His longing for people to embrace His loving rule and His sorrow over the lack of faith among the religious rulers. Ask God to deepen your own faith and commitment to the real Jesus and to lead you to His Returning Lord successor.