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The Triumphal Entry
"Now when they drew near to Jerusalem...Jesus sent two disciples...the disciples went and did as Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he [Jesus] sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" and when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred."
- Matthew 21: 1,6-10
"Now when they drew near to Jerusalem...Jesus sent two disciples...the disciples went and did as Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he [Jesus] sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" and when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred."
- Matthew 21: 1,6-10
I love this moment in scripture because it is the climax of Jesus's ministry. The moments when he finally reveals himself publicly to be the King and the Messiah, the long awaited savoir of Israel. Before he talked in parables, hushed his disciples, sent people who he healed out in secrecy. But in this moment he made it clear, he was the one they were waiting for.
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Should aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" - Zechariah 9:9
The people of Israel knew this scripture. The city of Jerusalem, the heart of Israel, was where their King, their Messiah, was suppose to reign. So here Jesus is, a spitting image of the prophesied Messiah, and he is entering their holy city. That is why as soon as they saw Jesus coming on his donkey, they immediately scurried to make a way for their King. What I love is that they paved the way for their king with offerings, sacrifices, and praises. People sacrificed of their cloaks, others ran to get palm tree branches (the branch was actually symbolic of victory), while some just shouted their praises. It's such a beautiful scene of God's people celebrating his coming!
The advent season is suppose to be a time of preparing for the Lord's coming, celebrating baby Jesus entering the world, while being reminded of his second coming.
How do we make a way for him, how do we create a space where Jesus can come and meet us? I think this scripture shows our worship, the very act of giving honor and value, to him clears the way for Jesus to come.
Sometimes what we have to offer are the things we have been holding very close, trying to protect and control. Our families, our relationships, our jobs, our hopes, our commitments. We don't trust God to handle those things.
Sometimes what we have to offer are the things we have been holding very close, trying to protect and control. Our families, our relationships, our jobs, our hopes, our commitments. We don't trust God to handle those things.
Sometimes what we have to sacrifice are the things we think we need. We need our time, we need our money, we need new clothes, we need vacations.
Sometimes what we have to offer is our praise. And not like mild, soft, whispered praises. But our highest, loudest, wildest praises. The verse say "Rejoice GREATLY!" "Shout ALOUD!". Another account from Luke says "The whole multitude of his disciples began to REJOICE and PRAISE god with a LOUD voice for all the mighty works they had seen" (19:37). Lately in worship, this scene has come to my mind. I can feel my praises making a space for the King to come. He is worthy of all your praises. And if you're not convinced that he is, start recounting every good thing you have seen him do, that's what the disciples did! And if you don't think he has done anything great, now is the perfect time to bring you offering, bring your sacrifice, and ask God to do something amazing.
Sometimes what we have to offer is our praise. And not like mild, soft, whispered praises. But our highest, loudest, wildest praises. The verse say "Rejoice GREATLY!" "Shout ALOUD!". Another account from Luke says "The whole multitude of his disciples began to REJOICE and PRAISE god with a LOUD voice for all the mighty works they had seen" (19:37). Lately in worship, this scene has come to my mind. I can feel my praises making a space for the King to come. He is worthy of all your praises. And if you're not convinced that he is, start recounting every good thing you have seen him do, that's what the disciples did! And if you don't think he has done anything great, now is the perfect time to bring you offering, bring your sacrifice, and ask God to do something amazing.
Whatever it is you have, you can lay it down, you can offer it up. When you do, you are making a way for Jesus to enter in. How can Jesus enter in when your walls are up? How can Jesus do miracles in your family when you are holding them too close for him to even touch? Jesus is trust worthy. More than that, Jesus is victorious! You might be thinking your just waving a branch at a guy on a donkey, but Jesus is turns that branch into a symbol of victory that testifies to his magnificent kingdom, his amazing kingship! How awesome is that!?
So as we anticipate his coming, as we prepare our hearts for this Christmas season we offer our worship to him, whatever is looks like, to make a space for our King to enter in.
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