3/19/2016

Palm Sunday

The Triumphant entry of King Jesus (The Coronation Parade)

Not that which is, but representative of that which is to be

Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem the week before the crucifixion and the resurrection. Such a clamor arises when people hear that Jesus is 'coming to town' that everyone knows that something special is going on.

Perhaps Matthew gives us the best picture of the events of the day but Mark, Luke and John each include elements to include along with Matthew.

A conglomeration of Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 29:20-40 & John 12:12-16 follows:

From mount of Olives (@ 7 miles from Jerusalem)

Sent two disciples

Prophesied events concerning ass (donkey)

Disciples go to nearby city

         Bethany/Bethpage (@ 2 miles down the slopes of the mt. of Olives)

For tied up donkey (never sat upon by a man) plus her colt

Owners challenge "Why are you untying my donkey?"

Response "Lord has need of them"

Man send his donkey with the disciples

Return to mount of Olives

Jesus had prophesied these events to the two before He sent them and it all came to pass, where the donkey was, the encounter with the owner and the result.

Draped cloaks (garments) upon donkey

Set Jesus upon donkey – fulfilled prophecy ‘Fear not daughter of Zion, your King comes sitting upon an ass’s colt.’ (Zechariah 9:9)

Proceeded to town

People rejoiced,many knew Jesus' reputation

Other people heard Jesus was coming

Great multitude went out to greet Him

People laid clothes upon pathway

Also tree branches (palm leaves) laid upon pathway

Shouts of

     'Hosanna to the son of David'

     'Blessed is He (the King) who comes in the name of the Lord'

     'Blessed is the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord'

     'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest'

     'Hosanna in the highest'

Some Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples (embarrassed by all the noise)

Jesus responded “If they don’t praise Me, the stones will.”

Others wondered – "Who is this?"

Multitude responded – "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee"

Disciples weren't following the events at first but later remembered how the things written about Him were fulfilled.


CORONATION OF A KING

The bible itself gives us some examples of how excited people became with the coronation of a king.  There was a big celebration!

1 Samuel 11:15

And all the people went to Gilgal where they made Saul their king, before the Lord, and they sacrificed a peace offering before the lord and rejoiced greatly.

2 Samuel 5:3

So all the elders of Israel came to King David in Hebron and the made a pact before the Lord and David was made king of all Israel.

But consider 1 Sam. 3:3 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David but David grew stronger while Saul grew weaker.

2 Kings 11:12-14

And they brought the king’s son (Joash) forth ad put a crown upon him, avowed that he was king, anointed him and they clapped their hands and said ‘God save the King.’ When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and the people she came to the temple of the Lord. … as the manner was, the princes, trumpeters, and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew the trumpets …

Esther 2:17-18 (and this was for a queen)

… he (Ahaserus) set a crown upon her head and made her queen of Vashti. Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and servants, sent news to the provinces and gave gifts according to the state of the king.

There was great fanfare when David brought the Ark of the Covenant back into Bethlehem/Jerusalem

The passage is summarized  in the following:

2 Samuel 6:10-19 The Ark comes to the city of David

… so David brought the Ark of God from Obededom’s house to the city of David with gladness … sacrificed oxen and fatlings … David danced with all his might dressed in a linen ephod … David and all Israel brought the ark with shouting and the sound of the trumpet … put it in the tabernacle … and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord … blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and gave people bread, meat and wine.

Let's take a look at some of the key elements of the day:

The donkey

     The donkey (according to http://www.bible-history.com/) is a symbol of peace. (Zech. 9:9)

     A symbol of well-being (Gen. 22:3) … Abraham saddled his ass … 

     As well as work animals, carrying burdens, plowing fields, moving grinding stones, etc.

The celebration

     As cited in the passages related to kings (and queen), the coronation (celebration of the crowning),      that is that person taking 'official' position was a big deal.  A huge celebration was always in order         and executed.

     Think of the activities surrounding the inauguration of our president, the inauguration, the ball             later and all the other festivities.

Significance of the Ark

     The Ark of the Covenant was representative of God's presence among the people of Israel:  I                contained:

          Tablets of the Law  (Exod. 20)  God's guidelines for us in our relationship with Him and our                     brothers and neighbors.   

          Aaron's rod (staff)  (Exod. 4, 7-12)  The tool through which God exercised his power as He                       delivered Israel from Egypt.  Aaron did something with his staff prior to each plague.  

          Some Manna (Exod. 16)  A symbol of how God provides for His children by giving us                               'the bread of life' when we are hungry.         

     The Ark contained all the necessities of life for the children of Israel as Jesus now provides for His             brothers and sisters (us, believers).

Get the picture:

The mount of Olives was about 7 miles from Jerusalem and apparently it had long slopes as Bethany is described as being about half way, or about 2 miles, down the mountain.

As they had no saddle for the donkey, the disciples put their garments upon the donkey before setting Jesus upon its back.  What covered the disciples backs now covered the donkey's back as a protection upon which Jesus could sit.

As Jesus entered the city, the people made quite a ‘to do’ about His coming, a lot of fanfare.

Rejoicing, shouting, and as we see probably embarrassing the Pharisees.

Pilate called Jesus ‘King of the Jews’(Mark 15:2)

On the cross, the Pharisees tried to change the inscription (John 19:21), but Pilate refused (smart man)

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome tried to anoint Jesus (after the fact - He was already risen when they came to the grave) but remember the woman with the box of spikenard (Mark 14:3-9)? Jesus was already anointed for burial – but not for His Kingship. But I suspect that will happen when Jesus comes back for His church.

All of these things add up to a potential celebration of the coronation of King Jesus - prior to the fact. 

     Riding into town on the back of a donkey which implied not just humility (it wasn't a camel or an        elephant) but also of some stature (otherwise He would have had to walk into Jerusalem).

     He was not crowned ‘King’ on this weekend but remembering the events of the week that                   followed, the soldiers put a scarlet robe about Him and even though it was made of thorns, a crown     upon His head hailing Him (though mocking) King of the Jews (Matt. 27:28-29)

    The celebration of His entry into Jerusalem

This might very well have been the ‘coronation parade’ He hasn’t had time for – yet.

So just as the woman anointed His body for (the yet to happen) burial 'before the fact', maybe, just maybe, His entry into Jerusalem was His coronation parade - celebrating His (coming) Kingship.

For truly, even though Jesus didn't set up His earthly kingdom at that time, He did set up His spiritual kingdom through this, the evens of the following weekend and 53 days later (the ascension) where He lives in my heart and all of us who receive Him thereby becoming the King of my heart and (hopefully) yours
.  

In Jesus' name