2000 years ago, the Sadducees believed the Messiah would show up four days before Passover. They kept the gates of the Temple open so that He could walk right in to His rightful place. The Romans would have all troops activated and on alert on that day. They feared the Jews would try another revolt under some religiously crazed radical as had happened in the past. Tensions were very high.
That is the very day Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. 9 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.
Picture this in your mind. Jesus rode the donkey down, what is now named, Hosanna Street in Jerusalem. It was a donkey that had never been ridden. If you are coming from Bethlehem and then through Bethany, the road climbs over a ridge and spread out before you on the other side of the Kedron Valley is the beautiful city of Jerusalem. The dominant feature in the city is the Dome of the Rock. The Dome of the Rock now stands where the Temple once stood. The rock inside that dome has the footings of the Holy of Holies in the dimensions recorded in God’s word. There is even a carved-out area on top of the rock in the dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant. That ridge was once called the Mount of Olives. Two-thirds of the way down that hill into the Kedron Valley is the Garden of Gethsemane.
Mark 11:1. As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.
The crowds that had witnessed Lazarus resurrection shouted “Hosanna” which means, “Save us now!” Yasha anna in Hebrew. They are quoting from Psalms 118:25. O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
The welcoming crowd shouted, Luke 19:38 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Mark 11:8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
This is what we know as the Triumphal Entry. Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem with palm branches and shouts of Hosanna.
Now I want you to shift gears and hear about the next Triumphal Entry.
Zechariah 14:2. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle.4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
That is the Triumphal Entry! The day is coming when armies will surround Jerusalem. At that time, Jerusalem will fall and half the people will be removed. But then the LORD Himself will fight against those nations that have taken Jerusalem.
Revelations 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice, he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Now the King of Judah comes on a war-horse. No more gentle Jesus, for the time for justice has come. He will hold mankind accountable. He will execute justice on the wicked? When a Hitler or Saddam is allowed to reign terror, we ask “Where is God?” when some tyrant kills the innocent. On that day, all evil will face justice. No one is going to ask then, “Where is God?” for every eye shall see Him. The Day of Lord is coming and then it will be too late for those who have ignored His pleading all their life.
As the armies of the world loot Jerusalem, He will descend from heaven on His war-stallion. He will dismount upon the Mount of Olives as Zechariah predicted. He will execute justice in the earth, for He is Faithful and True. It is with justice that He judges and makes war. He is the Word of God. The reign of the Messiah as a ruler of the earth will begin. It was what the religious leaders were hoping for at the first coming. But it is not the powerful that will reign at His side. It is the meek who will inherit the earth.
At the second Triumphal Entry, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Then everyone will know that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Zechariah 14:5b. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime–a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light. 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day, there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Just as the first prophecy has been fulfilled, so the second one will be fulfilled. He will reign as King over the earth.
Palm Sunday!
The ones that shouted ‘yasha anna’ will be shouting, “Crucify Him” in just four days.
Let the palms wave on this most happy day!
Greetings they bear to us of joy and gladness.
Jesus is come to take all grief away,
He comes to banish gloom and sadness.
Chorus:
People and tongues shall chant His praise;
Tune every voice, His name be gladly singing.
Hosanna! Glory to God!
Glory to Him who comes bringing salvation.
2 His gentle voice pervades the mighty throng.
’Tis He who freedom gives o’er land and sea;
’Tis He who gives in darkest night a song,
Gives light, O Lord, that we may come to Thee!
3 Rejoice, rejoice, Jerusalem the holy!
Loud let thy joyous notes in praise ascending.
Laud Him, the Child of Bethlehem the lowly,
All hearts aflame, in song all voices blending.