Matthew 21:1-11
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
What seems like a simple joy ride to the city of Jerusalem, is the beginning of the end for Jesus. It will be the last week he spends on this earth and will end with his crucifixion and resurrection.
I am ALWAYS amazed at God’s perfect timing. How everything single detail is clouded with significance. We have said many times the Old Testament images are foreshadows of things to come.
Let’s go back to the old testament story of the children of Israel deliverance from Egypt. Exodus 12:3-11
Exodus 12:3-11New International Version (NIV)
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.
In celebration of the deliverance out of Egypt, the children of Israel were to select a lamb, unblemished, one year old male and just the right size for their family. This would take place on the 10th day of the first month, Nissan. They would take the baby lamb into their home and care for him in their midst daily. At the end of the 14th day, the lamb was to be slaughter by the firstborn of the household signifying the night the Lord’s death angel passed over and salvation was brought to the household. On that night in Egypt, they took the blood of the lamb that had lived with them and sprinkled it on the two doorpost and the lintel. The Lord told them, “When I see the blood, I will pass over your house (household).
Where am I going with this history lesson?
On the day that Jesus enters into Jerusalem, there would have been thousands and thousands of people traveling to Jerusalem for the feasts. Beginning with Passover and ending with the festival of first fruits, the crowds’ first stop would be to choose a lamb.
THE DAY JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SELECTION DAY FOR THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE A LAMB TO BE SACRIFICED FOR THE SINS!!!!
Do you wonder now why Jesus wept when He looked over Jerusalem that day?
He understood that He would be their Passover lamb! He would be their final sacrifice that would redeem man from his sin and be victorious of Satan!
Yet even today, sadly, we sing Hosanna in the highest, and then go about our business as usual. We never realize there is such rich treasures in all God has given to us.
A study of the word Hosanna in the Hebrew reveals a golden nugget for this story. The word is “Hoshiya na!” It literally means “Save, please!” It is a cry to God for help! It is found in only one place in the Old Testament. Psalms 118:25 25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
“Hoshiya na” gradually became translated “Salvation! Salvation! Salvation has come!”
Today as we go to worship on this Palm Sunday, consider that Jesus was the God’s selection of a sacrificial lamb for His household. We are the household of God. We have much to praise Him for today!
Salvation! Salvation! Salvation has come. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
For your kingdom Lord, grant us hearts that bubble up with Hosanna in the Highest.
May we serve you and complete the works you gave us to do before the foundation of the world.
https://youtu.be/xrKQaIbuQeM
David Phelps Behold the Lamb
Treading on In His Service
Freda Reynolds
