Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Zechariah 9:9 KJV

Mistake not the significance of this event. The proclamation of the prophet Zechariah which comes nearly three hundred years prior to the arrival of a promised just and saving King for the people of God. Jesus came humbly as a carpenter from lowly Nazareth. The Jewish people were expecting a political ruler, one who would free them from the bondage of Rome, to make an end of sin and bring in everlasting righteousness. They were even told of the mode of his arrival: humble and riding a baby donkey.

Jesus was not being sneaky in the mode of his entrance to Jerusalem. It is not as though the people expected a king and got a carpenter; a conquerer and received a man regarded as a blasphemous heretic. No, the events described in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12 are known as the Triumphal Entry, not the sneaky entry. This coming to Jerusalem was not a bait and switch. Unbeknownst to the people, He was fulfilling the prophetic words of Daniel, and Zechariah. What then are we then to make of this glorious day in history? We will look at some of the events that followed this Triumphal Entry into his city in the coming days, but I want to touch on three challenges in hopes they will set up a greater understanding and appreciation for the rest of Passion week.

First, to you the reader, Jesus is worthy of your Hosanna. This is a shout of praise and adoration to the one who was promised in the Garden of Eden. He is the one who crushes serpent heads. Hosanna in the highest, indeed. This is an entry of Triumph to which all the cosmos turned their gaze, so let us turn ours to the God-Man, humble and riding on a donkey. All the events which follow in the days leading up to the cross deserve your hosanna, and at the empty tomb, you may rejoice.

Second, behold your King. He is just and bringing salvation. Jesus instructed silence to men and rebuked demons for saying He was such, for his time had not yet come. Were the people of Jerusalem wrong for proclaiming this? I think not. It was Jesus’ time. He told the religious leaders that if the people held their peace, the rocks would have cried out. He was coming to Jerusalem as King, to receive his inheritance, to buy the kingdom that was due him. The serpent, the great deceiver tried to offer it to him in the wilderness. The cost? Blasphemous worship of the false ruler. Today, we remember the commencement of the overthrowing of the serpent’s rule. He brings salvation to Zion. The cost? His life. He was not come to get a discount on his kingdom, He was going to pay full price. He is just, He will not settle to have a lien on his kingdom. And He comes not for real-estate only. He brings salvation to redeem unto himself a people. The yoke of oppression was being lifted, so the people can rejoice at the coming of the new King. He comes as a liberator.

Finally, He came humbly, but the entry into Jerusalem was not a sneak attack or a bait and switch. Riding on a donkey was the rite of the king as He entered in jubilation. He was coming with all the authority of Prophet, Priest, and King. He is the one who cleanses the temple, offers the perfect sacrifice, and conquers all things, so lift up your hearts! And shout Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!