“After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem…“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.”…Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them…They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road…As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Luke 19:28, 30, 32, 35-36, 41-44 NIV
…Not the way a Jewish king arrived to claim his throne. The donkey, yes! The crowds! Yes!
“The scripture describing a Jewish king riding a donkey is Zechariah 9:9, which prophesies a “just and having salvation” King arriving “lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”. This signifies a humble, peaceful king rather than a warrior on a horse. It is famously fulfilled by Jesus in Matthew 21:5.”
“Solomon rode a donkey for his coronation (1 Kings 1:33), and various Old Testament leaders used donkeys (Judges 5:10; 10:4; 12:14).” ( Google AI)
“Jesus’ riding a donkey on his triumphant entry to Jerusalem is a model of humility and selflessness. Donkeys are symbols of humbleness, and by choosing one instead of a horse, Jesus showed his humility. This fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy about the coming of a righteous king on a donkey. “
(Source: Google – “Why did Jesus choose to ride on a donkey if he is the Messiah the King?”)
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Zechariah 9:9 NIV
Jesus’ action was a perfect fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy. However, unlike an earthly king who would claim his right to an earthly and political throne, Jesus did not move towards Pilate’s residence to challenge and unseat the Roman governor as the people anticipated that their Messiah would do. Instead, He headed for the temple. Why?
Throughout His public ministry, Jesus had one focus…the kingdom of God. He painstakingly taught, through parables and illustrations and, by demonstrating the nature of God’s rule through signs and miracles, what God’s government on earth looks like.
Jesus also claimed to be the king, the supreme authority over God’s kingdom. Through His submission and obedience to the Father in His earthly role as the Son of Man…that is, both a human being and God’s Messiah, and after His resurrection…He was given all authority in heaven and on earth.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Matthew 28:18 NIV
Jesus headed for the temple, the seat of the Father’s spiritual authority over the nation of Israel. His throne was, symbolically, the Mercy Seat in the Most Holy Place in the temple. From there, He ruled in judgment and mercy.
En route to take the throne, Jesus paused for moment to overlook the city from a viewpoint on the Mount of Olives. In His imagination, He could already see the mayhem of God’s judgment falling on Jerusalem. He could hear the clatter of chariot wheels and horses’ hooves, the clamour of soldiers’ shouts, the wails of wounded and dying Jews. He could smell the blood and see the bodies of men, women, and children randomly scattered on the streets of the city like autumn leaves…ruin and destruction everywhere.
…and Jesus wept…wept for His people, His beloved nation, the ones He had led through a howling wilderness to their own land, the ones He had come in person to rescue from their self-inflicted destruction. He wept for the “fallen leaves” lying motionless in the streets…God’s unfulfilled purposes, wasted opportunities…now only useless “trash” to be dumped in Gehenna, the city’s garbage dump. He wept for what could have been.
“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
If only…but now…! What a terrible indictment against the people, now singing, dancing, and celebrating their ”king”, who would, in the next few days, turn on Him, yell for His death, and watch Him bleed, skewered with nails, like a piece of meat, to a Roman torture stake…for them!
…but it had to be!
In the heart of Jesus, there is both sorrow and joy, sorrow for wasted lives consigned to the trash, and joy for those who turned away from their self-inflicted foolishness, to set self aside forever, and to embrace and follow Him as Lord. The opportunity is still there as long as the earth remains.
Which way? Not Pilate’s palace to claim an earthly throne. The temple where He reigns as king over heart and life.
The choice is yours…
To be continued…