The stage is set for the final encounter.
The hour had arrived for the world/mankind to make the ultimate decision, (to either acknowledge Jesus the King or to renounce Him). The time had come for Jesus to fight the great battle with, Satan, sin and death...
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem amidst the shouting of hosannas by the crowd was a meticulously planned coup, strategically choreographed to catch the Jewish authorities by surprise and to announce his kingship and his rule; one that would mock all the worldly rulers and worldly kingdoms. Jesus rides on the colt of a donkey with all humility to announce peace and justice, instead of war.
Why did I say that it was a meticulously planned out coup?
Jesus was beyond what Jewish and political authorities could chew; his rabble rousing was more than what they could tolerate. They feared that all this would invite Roman intervention in their domestic affairs. They also realized that Jesus’ actions would eventually hurt their political and economic interests. The Sanhedrin, involving chief priests, Pharisees and the elders finally came to the conclusion that it would “be better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” (John 11:50) Jesus was perceived as a threat to national security. So, we read, “from that day on they planned to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews.” In John 11: 57, we read, “Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.”
It is in this context that Jesus decided to go into hiding; and from there, he meticulously and clandestinely planned for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Moreover, to keep this a secret, he used signs and passwords. Read the narrative in Luke 19: 29 and following: “he sent two of his disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, “the Lord needs it”. Then, the owner would allow them to take it. In this narrative, isn’t it very clear that it was a pre-planned and clandestine attempt to expose himself and his mission without being caught by the Jewish authorities? Jesus did not want to play into their designs. But at the same time, he also knew that he would not be able to escape them.
This brings us to acknowledge the following:
Our Lord is one who was detested and perceived as a threat by the religious and political establishment of his days. They wanted to eliminate him. He was perceived as a threat to national security.
Jesus could not escape confronting the political and religious establishment that never cared for the sick, the poor and the downtrodden, who were in the margins of society. Jesus had his own design for the world; a world of love and peace. A Christian, if he is true to Jesus Christ, cannot but confront the same forces active in this world. Are you prepared to join him? We cannot ignore the political dimension of the gospel.
Lordship of Christ and the Kingdom of God he came to announce cannot be kept a secret or private matter; it has to be made public. Can we also join Jesus in this triumphal demonstration to make public God’s design for this world and God’s rule over this earth? That is evangelism. The password for us is “The Lord needs it”; Yes, Jesus needs you; Jesus needs us. Are we ready to be his bearers?
Jesus is a King, but he is a king with a difference. Jesus was openly placing before the world an alternative kingdom and alternative model of a king. “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.” Jesus himself made it clear that the kingdom he came to announce is different from this world. "My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world." (John 18: 36) Jesus is a king but he is a king with a difference.
Jesus comes not with power and pomp of the worldly rulers; he comes riding on the colt of a donkey in gentleness and humility. While the kings of this world come riding on horses which are the symbols of war and might, Jesus, the king, comes riding on a pony, without any insignia of power; he comes to establish peace. While the kings of this world come to destroy and plunder, Jesus comes to liberate and heal. Jesus is the prince of peace who will turn swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. He did not come to conquer, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for the redemption of the world. His sword was love and his sceptre was peace. Do we want to acknowledge him as our king and organize our lives and our priorities according to his will?
Lastly, by this act, Jesus was mocking and ridiculing the kings and kingdoms of this world. Jesus was openly challenging them. Of course, as we find in the later chapters of the gospels, this triumphal entry into Jerusalem infuriated the powers that be - the high priests, the Pharisees and the Herodians; and eventually this lead him to the cross. Jesus was placing before the world an alternative way of designing and organizing the world. He presents before us an alternative political program in a way we cannot ignore. This alternative political program and its strategy were finally unravelled before us on the cross of Christ. Are we ready to take up our cross and follow him shouting hosanna?
It is right to praise you, Sovereign God, for the acts of love by which you have set us free. On this day Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly to suffer and to die and was greeted with branches of palm. Let these branches be for us symbols of martyrdom and glory. May we who carry them follow Christ in the way of the cross which leads to life; through Christ who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
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