Lent: The Final Week

This devotional was written by Lesley Buyukertas. Lesley has been at St Mary's for a while now.

Jesus' Triumphant Entry

11 As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 "Go into that village over there," he told them. "As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, 'What are you doing?' just say, 'The Lord needs it and will return it soon.'"

4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it.

8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

"Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!"

As Jesus set about this journey to Jerusalem he made deliberate statements that pointed to who he was, and which would fulfil Old Testament prophecies:

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" (Zechariah 9:9).

Crowds had gathered and there was excitement and rejoicing, "Hosanna" they shouted but did they know who He really was? They were correct to hail Him as the coming King, as Zechariah had long before promised, but they failed to grasp the significance of His riding upon the donkey, symbolic of His non-military and humble mission. He was not the earthly King that they had thought and sadly their cheers soon became jeers! Jesus knew exactly what awaited him as he approached Jerusalem; it wasn't pleasant and I imagine it felt like He was approaching the "Lion's Den" or worse but He showed He was not afraid of his enemies. He didn't need a mighty warhorse but came as a servant riding a colt, as one of peace. Why then label this the "triumphal entry"?  Well we know from the Bible the purpose of Jesus' suffering and death was for our sins and that He arose triumphantly from the grave.  Something we can celebrate today!

Pray

Father, thank you for revealing to us the true identity of Jesus and we believe that in sending your Son who suffered, died and rose again you have given us everything we need.  Lord, through your Holy Spirit, please help us to truly follow and trust you in every area of our life, even in the difficulties.
Amen.