Weekly Devotional 4th of April 2025
by Bruce Billington
Easter Devotional 2: The “triumphal” Entry
Read Matthew 21:1-11.
Although this passage is famously known as the Triumphal Entry, it signifies more than just Jesus entering the final stage of His work on Earth. Obviously, Jesus is aware of who He is and what He has been called to do. Verse five tells us that He is fulfilling a prophecy from Isaiah 65:11 and Zechariah 9:9. Jesus follows these words in a very deliberate manner.
Many hoped and believed that the Messiah would come as a great war leader who would seize power from Rome, re-establish Israel in their homeland (Luke 24), and rebuild the temple. However, amazingly, Jesus entered riding on a donkey, which is not a beast of war but a symbol of peace. Is this what the Kingdom of God is really about? Yes, but only in part.
McClaren makes a great statement by saying,
Here we can learn the lesson of gentleness that belongs to His kingdom and the unchristian nature of war and violence. However, let us not forget the latter image: ‘Behold, a white horse, and He that sat thereon, called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.’ (Rev 19:11).
Although His first coming established a kingdom that will have no end (Daniel 2:44; Mark 1:15), this moment – His final entry into Jerusalem – marks the point where His trial, suffering, death, and resurrection will occur. Rather than revealing Himself as the great King, He demonstrates His humility by coming to save the lost through the cross. However, despite this expression of absolute humility, He is the promised Messiah, the son of David, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and He does come as a conquering King. No king had ever arrived in Jerusalem this way; such a circumstance was foretold of the Messiah alone, and Christ alone fulfilled it to the letter.
This is what humanity has awaited since the tragic fall of Adam and Eve in the garden. Through the Easter experience- cross, resurrection, and ascension- He will overcome what we as humans could not conquer.
The Pulpit Commentary says,
He is coming to give what we could never earn. He is coming to reign forever and ever, and in his reign, to fix everything that sin has broken. He has not come to dethrone physical kings or establish an earthly kingdom. He will not bring down Rome and sit on Caesar’s throne. He will not deliver less than this, but infinitely more. He is coming to establish a global and eternal kingdom that will bring about new heavens and a new earth, where peace and righteousness will reign eternally. In this moment, the King has come to take his rightful throne.
As our passage indicates, the crowd is unaware of who Jesus is and what He has come to accomplish. They shout “Hosanna” (which means, “Save us now!”) with great anticipation, but the salvation they desire is temporary and political. In just a few days, the crowd in Jerusalem will be shouting, “Crucify Him.”
Today, we should celebrate His coming to Jerusalem, for we know Him as Christ, our Saviour. We should worship Him and shout for joy that He was willing to come and pay the price that set us free. His name is above all names, His throne above every throne, and we should praise Him because He completed the horror of the cross, triumphed through the resurrection; ascended victoriously to the right hand of the Father and sent us the Holy Spirit, who has now made all those in Christ, the temple where He lives.
Now that is amazing! Oh, what a God we serve!
God bless you.
Bruce Billington