Jesus Enters Jerusalem on a Donkey
May 16, 2020
Commentary
Since it was Passover, there were probably about 2 million people in and around Jerusalem. This crowd was composed of Jews who lived in Jerusalem and those from Galilee and the surrounding countryside. Jesus and the disciples were approaching Jerusalem from the east as they came up the road from Jericho (v. 1). As they reached the town of Bethphage on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to find a donkey and its colt (vv. 2-3). The disciples got the animals and threw their garments on them. By this time a crowd had gathered.
Most of these people were from Galilee, who were already familiar with Jesus, and were on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The week had finally arrived for which Jesus was born, the week in which He would die on the cross for our sins. This was the only time in His ministry that Jesus planned and promoted a public demonstration. He did this for at least two reasons:
- He was fulfilling the prophecy recorded in Zechariah 9:9 (v. 4).
- It forced the Jewish leaders to act (vv. 5-7). The prophetic Scriptures required that the Lamb of God be crucified on the day of Passover.
The crowd spread their coats and branches on the road (v. 8). They were shouting and the entire city of Jerusalem was stirred (vv. 9-11). Hosanna means “Save us, Help us now!” and Son of David was a title for the Messiah. It’s clear what the people wanted. They thought Jesus was coming to save them from the Romans, to establish Himself as King of Israel. But Jesus did not ride into the city on a warhorse. Instead, he came on a peaceful donkey. Jesus was going to be crowned King, but not in a way anyone expected.
Application
How do the religious crowd of my day differ from the religious crowd of that day? As I go to church, sing songs, and listen to the preacher am I allowing the Lord to be King of my life?
Matthew 21:1– 11 (NET)
1 Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
5 “Tell the people of Zion, ‘Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”