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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Jesus, The King’s Triumphal entry into Jerusalem

Zechariah 9:9; Mark 11:1-11
Psalm Sunday, March 16, 2008

As we approach one of the most celebrated holy days in our culture; there were two events leading up to that day, one is called Psalm Sunday where believers/Christians worldwide pay respects to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on an untamed donkey and the crowd shouting “Hosanna in the highest.” The crowd was spreading psalm branches and clothing making way for the King riding on His lowly colt displaying humility and true servant ship. The other major event that occurred the same week was this same crowd that praised Jesus cried crucify him.

The crowd misunderstood Jesus’ coming even though He had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets many centuries earlier. The crowd wanted and believed Jesus; the Messiah would restore Israel to its promances thus establishing His earthly kingdom. This prophecy will be fulfilled upon Jesus’ second coming. Upon realizing that Jesus was not the Messiah they expected became an angry mob cried “Crucify Him.” They played a part in prophecy being fulfilled. Why, because all of the events which occurred that week was prophesied by the Old Testaments prophets.

Let’s examine Zechariah 9:9 while remembering what happened in our New Testament scripture text (Mark 11:1-11). First, the prophet Zechariah tells the nation to rejoice and then he tells them how to rejoice, “Greatly.” Second, the prophet tells the people to “shout” with a loud voice (paraphrased), “O daughter of Jerusalem: behold.” The world “behold” means wait, something of significance is about to happen. Third, Zechariah leaves no doubt as to what happens next, “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.” There was reason to shout for joy because the long awaited Messiah was riding into to town on an ass as predicted one who had never been ridden before. Jesus, the Messiah was bringing salvation to the world. Furthermore, He is just in all His dealings with humanity.

Let’s look at our scripture text from a humility point of view; Jesus is the King, and He could have arrived in Jerusalem in royal splendor, instead He chose humility by riding on an untamed colt. Jesus entered the city in this fashion telling the world He was (a) the promised Messiah and Saviour of the world, (b) and ready to die on the cross for humanity’s sins. He emptied Himself of His deity to suffer human limitations, misunderstandings, ill-treatments, and yes the cruel death on the cross. Throughout Christ’s earthly ministry, He maintained His divine nature because He was and is still God.

Christ is the only person to have two natures human and divine. It was easy for the people of His day to fail in grasping the full magnitude of just who Christ really was because from all appearance He looked like just another man. He was a masterful teacher and healer. People quickly forget the many miracles Jesus performed authenticating His divine identity. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day held their mock trial only to find Him guilty of no sin; still the people chose Jesus instead of Barabbas, the guilty one. Throughout this ordeal Jesus displayed humility, fulfilling prophecy. Reflect with me if you will on the humiliating our Saviour suffered at the hands of His mockers, even while He hanged on the cross. Yes, Jesus was triumphal in His entry into Jerusalem, in His victory over death, and sin providing salvation to mankind. When Jesus’ first entered Jerusalem, He was riding a colt, the second time He will be coming in His glory and everyone will know He is the King. In retrospect, each of Jesus’ entries into Jerusalem was and will be triumphal because He is the King whether it is in humility riding a donkey or in a blaze of glory riding a white horse.

Finally, the week preceding resurrection Sunday is considered Passion Week, take a reflective moment and consider the pain our Lord suffered for man’s sins, and then ask isn’t Jesus worthy to be the King? Let’s retrace Jesus’ passageway, He stopped in Jerusalem on His way to Calvary, died on the cross; and then rose Sunday morning. Have you made Him Lord of your life? Has Jesus entered “the Jerusalem” of your heart? Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour? We have victory in Jesus. All hail the King Jesus Christ!

1 comment:

judah said...

jesus did not really empty himself of his diety phil 2:6-10 But he emptied himself of any right to it.
Not displaying his diety, it being vieled by flesh. He cannot empty himself of what he is by nature unless he would cease to be. He demonstrated the ultimate humility
in showing that power and glory do belong to God, but if he puts them aside he yet remains God, because he is what he is by nature. He emptied himself of all of what man would say belong to God, power, privledge, glory, etc.... showing that those things donot make him God. And took on all that man would disprove, humilty, suffering, shame, and yet was diety.