The Triumphal Parade
“A great multitude, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel! John 12:12
Most triumphal parades are for the benefit of those who understand them the least, and this one was no exception. Most people along the route did not know why they were there; they simply happened to be present when a parade broke out. Those who enjoyed it most understood it least. In the moment they shouted, “Hosanna!” but the next week they would cry, “Crucify Him.”
Someone asked, “What are we here for?” The reply came, “We are here to see Jesus, the Messiah. He is going to be our national liberator; that’s why we are waving these palm branches. You see, Jesus is going to save us from the Romans.”
I believe Jesus wept that day because the people desired the wrong thing. “Hosanna” means “save us now,” with a strong emphasis on “now.” But the freedom they longed for was temporary and fleeting, while Jesus came to offer eternal peace. He entered Jerusalem not on a great white horse as a conquering hero, but on a humble donkey as the Suffering Servant.
The Suffering Servant riding on a donkey brings peace and drives away fears. He says to us today, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27).
Teachings that come from men are often flawed, but what God reveals is never wrong. So, what is revealed to us in the story of Jesus riding on a donkey? This simple truth: kingdoms won by conquering heroes are temporary, but the life given to us by the Suffering Savior is eternal.
“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
Matthew 21:1-9 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.21.1-9.NKJV
Douglas & Deborah Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Email-douglas@pavementendsministry.com
Hosanna
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.’”
Zechariah 9:9-10 NKJV
He is not there He is risen – He is risen indeed.