The Triumphal Entry

Luke 19:28-40

Jesus has spent over three years in ministry at the time of this incident, having traveled over almost all Israel. It is just a week before his resurrection, and he will fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, once again proving he is the Messiah. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” It is a miraculous event.

“And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.” (Luke 19:28-31)

Just outside Jerusalem, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent his disciples into the nearby village. They will find an untrained colt tied up, and if any body asks them why they are taking it, they are to say the Lord needs him. When they get to the village and find the donkey, the owners asked them why they were taking their donkey. When they said the Lord needed him they just let them have him. That’s not a normal response.

“And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him.” (Luke 19:32-34)

Having broke a few horses to ride, I know that it is not normal for them to just allow people to get on unless they have been worked with quite a lot. Flapping coats being put on his back or thrown down in front of him would normally cause a panic. This donkey allowed Jesus to ride him without protest even when they threw their coats in front of him. It was unusual enough that all four gospels record the event.

“And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19:35-38)

The multitude of his disciples recognize him as the Messiah, the rightful king, and that he has fulfilled scripture. This occurs on Sunday. On the following Thursday, many of the same group will be calling for his execution, after the Pharisees stir them up. Even that day, while his disciples are celebrating his being king, the Pharisees are working to hush it up.

“And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:39-40)

Apparently they decided it would be easier to discredit the claims of the people than it would if the rocks started talking. “Dumb as a rock” would have a whole new connotation that might be hard to explain.