Were you there as Jesus rode into Jerusalem? It was a crazy day, so many people around for the Passover, and now the rabbi Jesus shows up and it’s like something straight out of the prophets; he’s riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, like a king of old. Wow! The people went crazy, can this really happen? It felt so good sticking it to the Romans and the Pharisees who were always trying to keep the peace for the Romans. Let’s go!
Jerusalem’s the centre of Jewish life. Here’s where David and Solomon ruled their empires. Here’s where the Roman governor has his palace as well. Even Rome sees Jerusalem is the centre of power of this area. But Jerusalem’s also the religious centre of Israel. The temple’s been rebuilt and Jewish pilgrims come here from all over. Every Jewish man dreams of making at least one pilgrimage to Jerusalem in his lifetime. Jesus is heading into the centre of both the political and religious centres of power in Israel, and he’s on a collision course with both.
Jesus sends two of his disciples into town to pick up a colt. We know from the other Gospels, that this colt is a donkey and has never been ridden before. We read over this quickly, but it’s all a piece of the parable Jesus is playing out in front of everyone. An animal dedicated to God for the temple or synagogue was never used for regular work, so this colt, which has never been ridden before, is now being used only for God’s purposes.
Jesus tells the disciples that if anyone asks why they’re untying the colt to say that the Lord needs it. Sure enough, the disciples go and find the colt, untie it and when asked by the owners, say exactly what Jesus told them to and they’re allowed to take it. The disciples take the colt to Jesus. They understand part of the parable Jesus is acting out. The disciples put their cloaks on the colt and set Jesus on them. Pictures from the Old Testament are running through their heads; Zechariah’s words are running through their head, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The king they’ve been waiting for is finally here. Jesus is the lawful heir to the throne of David. Thoughts of armies, battles and victories fill their heads as they begin to shout out and praise God for all the miracles they’ve already seen. The miracle they’re getting ready to celebrate is the miracle of defeating Rome and putting Jesus on the throne in Jerusalem. After-all, how can Jesus be defeated with the power he has; over nature, disease and even death! Didn’t he say that God’s his father? That means God’s on our side and if God is with us who can be against us.
I can see Peter and Judas talking with each other as they put Jesus on the back of the colt. Both are passionate supporters of Jewish independence and want Jesus to take control. I can hear Peter already saying, “Hey Judas, I think Jesus finally gets it, he’s going to claim David’s throne. Maybe we should send word out to the villages to tell the men to get ready.” Judas replies, “I thought Jesus would never see things our way. All that talk about loving our enemies. Finally, we’ll be free again.” Both Peter and Judas have dreams for Jesus and neither one understands Jesus’ talking about going to Jerusalem to die. They only hear what they want.
Jesus rides into Jerusalem as king. This is happening just before the Passover. For the Jewish people, Passover is more than a religious observance. It’s when they celebrate liberation from slavery. During Jesus’ time, they also used this opportunity to express their longing for political freedom from Rome. Jews who claimed to be “messiahs” in the past had often caused riots during Passover, so the Romans now brought extra troops into Jerusalem during the Passover season. The Roman soldiers did not hesitate to shed blood to keep the peace.
On the Sunday before Passover, Jesus comes out of the wilderness on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, where the prophecy said the Messiah would come from. People spread cloaks and branches on the road before him. Then the disciples “began, joyfully, to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen.” The crowd begins shouting, “Hosanna,” a slogan of the ultra-nationalistic Zealots, which means, “Please save us! Give us freedom! We’re sick of these Romans!” The palm branches had been on Jewish coins when the Jews were free. The palm branches are not a symbol of peace and love; they’re a symbol of Jewish nationalism and the people’s desire for political freedom. The people don’t really understand what Jesus is doing.
They give Jesus the red-carpet treatment. The people take off their cloaks and lay them on the road before the colt. They’re showing Jesus all the honour they would normally offer the emperor or his representative. This is turning into a big and very public demonstration. Pilgrims are here from all over the empire, and many of them join in the parade, waving palm branches. The crowd becomes a royal escort for Jesus as they approach Jerusalem. This is like the picture that Paul has in 1 Thessalonians when he describes the return of Jesus when he comes to claim his kingdom.
Jesus and his disciples come near to the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, and the crowd begins to praise God for all the miracles they’ve seen. They shout, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” The dreams of the people are clear, they want to experience God’s blessings again through a God appointed king. The hope is that Jesus is the promised saviour who’s coming to rule on David’s throne forever. They echo the angels’ words from the night Jesus was born, now proclaimed for everyone to see and hear.
The Pharisees tell Jesus to get things under control, but Jesus tells them, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!” Jesus is accepting the crown of kingship the people want to place on his head. But Jesus is not the king the people really want. When David put Solomon on the throne, Solomon rode in on a donkey rather than a warhorse because Solomon was a king of peace, not a warrior king like David. Solomon was going to be the king without blood on his hands so that he could build the temple of God without defiling it. Solomon was a king who built, not destroyed. Solomon’s reign was characterised by peace, growth, and wisdom. Jesus is showing the people that he’s a king in the tradition of Solomon. He’s not here to battle the Roman Empire; instead, he’s here to bring peace and build something new and glorious to God the Father: the church.
Despite all the misunderstanding, Jesus knowingly rides into controversy, pain, and death. In the middle of all the hopes and dreams for a warrior king, Jesus rides in as a king of peace. However, the crowd is so blinded by their hopes and dreams for political freedom, that they only see Jesus as a warrior king. Demonstrators always have demands, they want change to go their way, they support those who promise to change things to what they want. Not much different today, we keep looking to political leaders, to organizations that come together to gain influence, to give us freedom and what we want, but all they do is use us for their visions.
Our freedom is freedom from sin, from the power of Satan, not freedom as our world defines it. We’re free to serve, to humbly be Jesus followers. We’re free to serve the kingdom of heaven, not get caught up in the kingdoms of the world, our kingdom is so much more! Freedom is free, joyful, satisfying obedience to God. But we’re not used to kings today and what a king requires of us. We choose our leaders and expect our leaders to please us and follow our desires; kings in the time of Jesus were absolute rulers and the people submitted to them. Absolute obedience was demanded. Are you willing to accept Jesus as your king under these circumstances, or are you more like the people shouting “Hosanna;” desiring a king who fits their wants instead?
Jesus brings in a new kingdom
characterised by forgiveness and grace, rather than power and oppression, a
kingdom where leaders get on their knees and serve, and where forgiveness is
offered 70 times 7 times. Jesus turns the whole world upside down with his new
kingdom. The question is, “which kingdom do you choose to belong to, the
world’s kingdom of power and strength and oppression; or Christ’s kingdom of
forgiveness, grace and humility?” Are you willing to follow Jesus
completely? On Good Friday we’re celebrating the Lord’s Supper and Jesus calls
us to reflect on our lives and our allegiance. In the Lord’s Supper, we declare
that we choose Jesus as our king of peace and commit to serving him as he
taught us to serve: humbly and completely, in every part of our life, and with
our whole heart.
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