1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
As they drew near to Jerusalem, as they got to the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead to get a donkey colt. He told them where to find it and what would happen when they got it. He told them to say that the Lord has need of it and everything happened as He said it would. This is another glimpse into Jesus’ omniscience, His knowledge of things in the future and away from His presence that only God would know.
When they brought the colt to Jesus, they threw their cloaks on it and He sat on it. Then those with Him spread their cloaks on the road and others cut and spread leafy branches creating a “red carpet” for the coming King. They shouted “Hosanna!” (the word originally meant, “O save us now,” but grew into a shout of praise, like “Hallelujah” both meanings were appropriate at this event). Their chants came from Psalm 118:25-26 which was part of the Passover celebration. The crowds were more likely caught up in the Passover celebration and hopeful for a king who would free them from the oppression of Rome and rule over them. They did not realise that Jesus, peacefully riding on a colt was their Messiah (Zech 9:9).
When He entered Jerusalem, Jesus went and surveyed the temple to see if it was being used as His Father intended but because it was the evening and time for the city gates to close, He returned to Bethany with His disciples.
Sometimes we can develop a picture of Jesus (and God), like the crowd, based on what we want Him to be rather than on who He is. We are to be moulded to His image, not He to ours (2 Cor 3:18).