This week starts the season of Lent. During this season we begin to prepare ourselves for the Passion Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Through Lent I will be giving a series on the Passion Week. Each week we will look at another aspect of that glorious and painful week.
Triumphal Entry
John 1:1-18 <--is not a typo
Christ made two triumphal entries while here on earth. They both were similar in one aspect; they were both covered in humility. On Christ’s first entry he was born to an un-wed mother in a barn surrounded by shepherds, and carpenters, not Kings and royalty. Our Deliverer came to into his creation, he stepped foot on this earth as a human. He came into this world his world knew him and worshipped him, yet his people did not.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. When you look at this passage in the Greek you find one thing stands out. The phrase “that which was his own” refers to the earth, animals and the rest of creation. However, the remainder of this verse “but his own did not receive him” refers to his own people. What this passage tells us is that Jesus entered his creation and his creation knew him, but his own people rejected him.
Herod the Great heard that a new King had been born and so he sought to kill this new king before he was removed from power. The Son of God from his birth had a price on his head. Evil knew what was going to happen and wanted to take every opportunity to keep it from happening. From birth Jesus was rejected by his own people. Throughout his ministry his own hometown rejected him, others questioned what good could come from Nazareth. Jesus’ entry to Earth deserved to be celebrated with parades, festivals, feasts and yet he was greeted by cows, and shepherds. He deserved to be clothed in silk and fine linen, instead he was wrapped rags and laid in hay.
And yet in spite of all of this his entry was triumphant! Our savior was born he had become incarnate. He was among us. Jesus had stepped out of heaven and placed himself within his creation. He was here, he breathed our air and ate our food. Jesus walked with us, beside us. The Son of God had become Man.
After 3 years of ministry the time had come for the Son of God to make another Triumphant Entry.
The Passion Week begins with Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus has come from His transfiguration experience; God has given His stamp of approval to His Son and who He is. Only a short period of time has gone by since Jesus walked off of that mountain and now we see him riding into Jerusalem.
The Son of God entered Jerusalem greeted by followers and disciples who sang praises to Him. But this entry was very similar to his first entry.
Luke 19:28-40
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a donkey tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.31 If anyone asks you, ’Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ’The Lord needs it.’" 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the donkey, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the donkey?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs it." 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the donkey and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
As Passion Week begins Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem, he does not come as a conquering king who seeks to oppress, but instead he comes in as the humble savior who wants to set his people free. He does not come riding a white stallion with shining armor and a blazing sword he comes riding a young donkey. He does not come with a massive army, instead he comes with followers and disciples who praise God for what they have seen in this Man who is the Messiah.
Even now the humble Messiah is rejected. The religious leaders ask Jesus to silence his people.
They probably did this for two reasons:
1. They were afraid that the Romans might here them praising a new King and think a civil revolution had begun.
2. They were also trying to silence the people from Praising Jesus. They didn’t want to hear people praising a new King and Messiah.
No matter which Triumphant Entry we look at, they both have a single purpose, they both usher in Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of all.
Both entries let us know that our Savior has come! They let us know that we who receive this meek King will become children of God.
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
If we receive this man who is rejected by all we will become children of God.
If we receive this King who was crucified we will have salvation.
If we receive this sacrifice He will take our sins upon himself.
Oh if only His creation would receive Him.
If only we would receive Him.
If only you would receive Him.
