Day 22

The Triumphal Entry

from the The Life of Jesus reading plan


Matthew 26:6-16, Matthew 21:1-46

BY Lauren Eve

“Hosanna…!” 

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” —Matthew 1:29 

Can you imagine hearing those praises echoing from the crowds of people all over the city? What an extraordinary sight it would be to witness! People gathered along the streets, waving and shouting. Coats and palm branches being tossed on the road (Matthew 21:8). There must have been so much joy and reverence felt at that moment! I can only guess what some of the people must have thought who lived in Jerusalem. However, the Israelites knew what was happening. This was Jesus, the Son of God, who spent the last three years teaching, healing, and serving people throughout the countryside and was now making a grand entrance into the big city of Jerusalem on a humble donkey. Their Messiah and King had finally come. This was a moment the Israelites had been waiting to see for generations! 

Here Jesus publicly claimed that He was the king of Israel. He also knew His time on Earth was coming to an end. At the time, the Israelites didn’t realize that this event would begin the week leading to Christ’s death on the cross. Some thought His entry into Jerusalem as king of Israel meant He would overthrow the strict Roman government that ruled their land. Yet Jesus had arrived for a very different reason. 

Jesus was coming to fulfill God’s will. He knew this was going to be a difficult week. Still, the days that followed His Triumphal Entry were filled with ministry. He spent time in the temple teaching and healing people (vv.12–14,23–46). He spent time in fellowship at people’s homes (vv.6–13). And He spent time preaching the love of God. In His final days, He could have chosen many other things to do. Instead, He decided to continue serving God and loving people.

Jesus’s Triumphal Entry meant the good news of eternal salvation was near. When we consider how He willingly came to Jerusalem, knowing what would happen next, we can see God has a plan and a purpose for us. When we notice how Jesus spent His time after He arrived in Jerusalem, we can see that His desire to love and serve people was important to Him regardless of the trials He would eventually face. For us, these are reminders that God has chosen to be with us. He has made a way for us to have a personal relationship with Him. No longer are we separated from a Holy God. We can choose to trust and follow Jesus because He cares for us.

Post Comments (49)

49 thoughts on "The Triumphal Entry"

  1. Brandy Deruso says:

    Hallelujah to the Lord for he is good!

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