Jesus Rides a Donkey Into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday
October 24, 2022
Commentary
We have come to the last stage of the journey. There had been the time of withdrawal around Caesarea Philippi in the far north. There had been the time in Galilee. There had been the stay in the hill-country of Judea and in the regions beyond Jordan. There had been the road through Jericho. Now comes Jerusalem. The long journey from Galilee had ended on what we now call Palm Sunday, as Jesus and His disciples reached Bethany, approximately two miles east of Jerusalem (v. 1). This was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and a place to which Jesus often retreated to.
As they approached the city, Jesus sent two of His disciples to the village nearby (vv. 2-6) to get a colt that had never been ridden and bring it to Him. He knew right where the animal could be found and the purpose of securing it was that Jesus’ entry into the city might be a precise fulfilment of prophecy (Zech. 9:9). The prophets of Israel had always had a very distinctive method of getting their message across. When words failed to move people they did something dramatic, as if to say, “If you will not hear, you must be compelled to see.” (1 Kings 11:30–32.)
In Palestine when a king went to war he rode on a horse and when he came in peace he rode on an ass. As our Lord rode westward over the Mount of Olives and down the slope towards Jerusalem some zealous followers spread their garments and branches on the path for Him to ride over (vv. 7-10). This milling crowd acknowledged that it believed its Messiah had appeared. They thought He had come to overthrow the Roman government and establish His Kingdom on earth. Jesus was indeed the Hebrew Messiah but His mission was not political or primarily external but spiritual and internal. After Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem, he went into the temple. Since it was already late in the day He went back to Bethany with the twelve disciples (v. 11).
Application
It is evident that all of those present were more concerned about what was going to take place in their immediate future than in eternity. Is the majority of my time taken up with the accumulation of things in this life or in preparation for the next life?
Mark 11:1– 11 (NET)
1 Now as they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here soon.’” 4 So they went and found a colt tied at a door, outside in the street, and untied it. 5 Some people standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They replied as Jesus had told them, and the bystanders let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 Many spread their cloaks on the road and others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Both those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany with the twelve since it was already late.
Illustration: Churchill Giving “Extemporaneous” Speeches
“President Nixon once told about talking to Winston Churchill’s son; he told him how much he admired the prime minister’s great ability at giving “extemporaneous” speeches. Churchill’s son replied, “Oh, yes. I’ve watched my father work for hours preparing those extemporaneous speeches.” (How To Talk So People Will Listen, Steve Brown, Baker, 1993, p. 124)