28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus went on ahead to Jerusalem and came near to Bethpage and Bethany, two villages on the east of Jerusalem at the mountain of Olivet. There He sent two disciples ahead to prepare for his entrance into Jerusalem. He told them to go into the village where they would find a colt that had never been ridden and bring it to him. This donkey had been kept for very special use by Jesus. He told them that if they were asked why they were untying it, they were to say, “The Lord has need of it”. They went and found everything exactly as Jesus had described it including being questioned by the owners. When they brought it to Jesus, they laid their cloaks on the colt. As Jesus rode along, people spread their cloaks on the road ahead of him (and palm branches, Matt 21:6-11; Mark 11:7-10; John 12:12-15). As He rode, everyone rejoiced and praised God and said, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (quoted from Psalm 118:26, a messianic psalm of praise) All His disciples gave Jesus a king’s welcome, a picture of how the whole nation should have responded to Him. The disciples’ praise is a reminder of the angels’ praise at His birth. The Pharisees in the crowd appeal to Jesus to quiet His disciples. They didn’t accept Jesus as Messiah and they didn’t want the disciples proclaiming Him as such. Jesus responded that if the disciples didn’t, the stones would proclaim Him as the Messiah.
In every place and at every opportunity let us boldly proclaim Jesus is Lord!
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Jeremiah Called: Jeremiah 1