Leading up to this time of Jesus fulfilling prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey (Zc 9:9), Jesus used miracles to show his authority and divine nature. The people needed to know that he fit the prophet’s description of their Messiah. He also limited who could tell others of their miracle to control the spread about him. He knew most had a picture of a conquering Messiah, and he wanted to avoid an uprising that would get Rome’s attention. He needed to get his message across before people would ignore his message and go with their desire. Jesus used parables to weed out those who truly sought him versus those who only wanted to use him for their gain. He knew many people just wanted what he could do for them physically. He was looking for those who were spiritually hungry.

Jesus tried to get the Jewish leaders to understand the error of their ways. They were leading the people astray and needed correction. Yet, they thought too highly of themselves to take Jesus’ words as anything but insulting.

Now, Jesus was ready to force everyone to accept or reject him by choosing Nisan 10th when Passover lambs were selected. This was one of his most brazen statements of himself being their Messiah. The Jewish leaders would not be able to put their decision off any longer.

He was also forcing Satan’s hand as well. Satan had to decide if the death of Jesus would be his best option to cause Jesus’ failure as the Messiah. He evidently believed that to be the case because he made the Jewish leaders more determined to kill him and caused Judas to turn against Jesus.

Once reaching Jerusalem, the people were curious as to who was entering the city in such a fashion with all the commotion and fanfare. Jesus attracted a large crowd which the Jewish leaders did not like.

Greek Jewish proselytes came to see him (Jn 12:20-22), and Jesus announced his soon-coming death. The Father announced his approval audibly (Jn 12:28). Many in attendance thought an angel had spoken unto him. Maybe because the Gentiles were present, but he responded very differently now than with previous interruptions by Gentiles. Jesus was now very clear he was for both Jews and Gentiles: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (Jn 12:32).

Many responded that the Messiah would be with them forever once he came so what did Jesus mean by his words. Jesus reemphasized his words which likely confused many in the crowd causing them to disperse. He then went to the temple. He looked around—unhappy at what he saw—but the hour was late, so he left and went back to Bethany (Mk 11:11). So, his entry was anti-climactic—at least for that day.

The next day, when Jesus entered the temple, he overturned the tables on the moneychangers and chased them and the animals from the Court of Gentiles (Mt 21:12-13; Mk 11:15-17). He quoted Isaiah 46:7 stating that the temple was to be a house of prayer, but they had made it a den of thieves. The merchants were overcharging for the animals for sacrifice and the priests, especially the house of Annas, got a cut of their profits.

That day, blind men came to him for healing, and Jesus healed them (Mt 21:14). This excited many of the people again. Even the children joined the praise saying, “Hosanna to the son of David” (Mt 21:15). The Jewish leaders were angry with Jesus but were afraid to do anything because of the people who were praising and supporting him. Jesus left before the leaders could devise a plan to do anything that day. Yet, this fortified their stance that they had to get rid of him.

As we can see, Jesus controlled everything around this event. Even though the Jewish leaders, and even Satan, wanted him gone, they were not the ones in control even though they thought they were. Next time, we’ll talk about this aspect and what this event meant for the Jews of that day and what it means for us today.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The path that Jesus took to get to Jerusalem had him traveling from Bethany to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and then took a route into Jerusalem likely going through the Sheep Gate. Which gate he entered is not recorded in Scripture, but there is a logical and spiritual reason for thinking he entered through this particular gate. Of course, the other route he could have taken was through the Eastern Gate. It would have been more direct but likely not the route most of the pilgrims took if they had a lamb for Passover with them as they would need to have the lamb inspected by the priests to ensure it was without blemish to offer as their paschal lamb, and they would need to enter through the Sheep Gate to have this inspection done by the priests.

Now for a few more details of Jesus’ trip from Bethany to Jerusalem and its temple. Jesus and his disciple arrive at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary in Bethany six days before Passover. Lazarus had been raised from the dead only a few months earlier. That evening, a feast is held at Lazarus’ house. Many heard that Jesus was there and came to see both him as well as Lazarus. This also upset the Jewish leaders that so many people were accepting Christ because of Lazarus being raised form the dead.

Mary, Lazarus’ sister, anoints Jesus’ feet as a testament of her understanding that Jesus was going to soon die (Jn 12:3-7). She seemed to have understood Jesus’ message better than many of his other disciples as the others still didn’t understand that in just a few days, he would be put to death. Jesus and his disciples stay with Lazarus through Sabbath. [As a side note, this same thing occurred two days before Passover in Bethany at the house of a former leper named Simon (Mt 26:1-6). The woman, this time anointing Jesus’ head, isn’t named. Could it have been the event as presented in the gospel of John? Possibly, but the days and locations are different. It had to have been a woman close to Jesus to understand what was going to happen to him as even his disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying about his death.]

The next day was Nassan 10th, likely a Sunday. Jesus and his disciples travel from Bethany to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and likely join hundreds of others traveling to Jerusalem to get ready for Passover.

Jesus tells two of his disciples to go into Bethphage and retrieve a donkey and its colt (Mt 21:1-3). The colt had never been ridden on, but the colt remained calm for Jesus to ride him. This in itself was a miracle.

The disciples and the pilgrims put their cloaks on the animal for Jesus to sit on and spread them on the ground for the donkey carrying Jesus to walk on. Others gathered palm branches and began waving them and praising Jesus (Mt 21:8-9). They did this all the way to Jerusalem. The Old Testament records this practice of anointed kings. We have such a practice done for Jehu when he was announced as the new king of Israel (2Ki 9:12-13).

Many of the pilgrims quoted parts of Psalm 118 during their praising of Jesus which is a Messianic psalm, especially verses 25 and 26 which states, “Lord, save us! [Hosanna] Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” When the people sang, “Hosanna,” they were saying, “Lord save us.” It is clear they were singing that Jesus was their Messiah. Yet, when they said, “save us,” they were implying a physical saving and not the spiritual saving that Jesus had in mind.

When on the Mount of Olives, Jesus pauses and weeps over Jerusalem knowing the outcome, his rejection, and the destruction that Jerusalem would face in less than forty years (Lk 19:41-44).

Because many of the pilgrims likely had lambs with them for their Passover sacrifice, they probably entered Jerusalem through the Sheep Gate rather than through the more direct Eastern Gate as their lambs would need to be inspected by the priests at the temple and would need to enter through the Sheep Gate for this to occur.

Don’t you find it interesting that Jesus chose Nisan 10th to ride into Jerusalem? He was proclaiming not only to be their Messiah but the Promised One: the One promised to Eve (Gn 3:15), the prophet like Moses (Dt 18:15), the pascal lamb that had been prophesied ever since the time of Moses (Is 53). He was the fulfillment of the sacrifices that had been offered all these years. Now it was time for the Jewish leaders to inspect and see if they would take him as their Messiah and Passover Lamb from God.

Have you thought about Jesus Christ in this way? He did all of this not only for the Jews of his day but for the entire world. One of the things he said while at the temple was, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (Jn 12:32). Did you get that? His death was for everyone on the earth: past, present, and future. Think about that and give him the praise he deserves.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens