Imagine being there when Jesus came into Jerusalem. People hoping that a Messiah would come to throw off the oppression of the Romans. Perhaps, this would be the year.
These thoughts filled the minds of those coming to Jerusalem. People heard the disciples calling him King and so they though of an earthly king with an earthly kingdom.
Jesus acted out of character here. He didn't tell people to be quiet about his actions. He was bold so that all knew about him. He allowed the boisterous celebration, Jesus knew what the people were expecting.
People wanted the kingdom of God to come immediately.
But Jesus came on the back of a donkey, a colt. Untried. Why did Jesus take this young, untried Donkey?
This event speaks to Whom Jesus is. he is telling people he is the Messiah. This goes back to Isaiah where it speaks of the King coming on a colt, the foal of a donkey. People knew well this scripture.
Jesus was telling the people that yes, he was the Messiah, but he wasn't the Messiah they were expecting. He was so public, he was the talk of all Jerusalem.
Royalty/God gifts were to be unused/unworked animals. By using this untried donkey colt Jesus was showing just who he was. And so as we worship today we need to be aware of just who we are worshipping.
We are worshipping the King who came to die for the sins of his people.
Even the fact that Jesus knew where the colt was, and the response of the donkeys' owner shows that Jesus is God and knows everything. Jesus knows ALL things.
People sometimes find that knowledge terrifying...that Jesus knows all about them. They want to hide certain things from him (just as Adam and Eve did in the garden), and knowing that they cannot, can be a scary thing for some.
There is no hiding from God.
To others it is a comfort...this knowing that Jesus knows everything about me and still loves me enough do die for me. He died for me while I was yet a sinner.
Some wonder that the owner let them take the donkey. A donkey was an important commodity in those days. But the LORD has need of , and thus the owner let them take it. This points to the fact that all we have belongs to the Lord. We need to remember that all we have belongs to the Lord.
The disciples shouted praise to God/Jesus because of all they had seen him do. The Pharisees said "quiet your disciples". Jesus refused to do so, saying that the stones would call out praise if the people did not.
The Pharisees had decided long ago that Jesus was not the Messiah and wanted the people to be quiet as they didn't want the Romans getting upset with the people of Israel. The Pharisees would not get caught up in the praise of Jesus.
This particular passage does not have the triumphal entry. This is just the triumphal drawing near. We know that Jesus did enter as we do find him later in the temple, but for now it was the drawing near. This shows how Jerusalem did not accept him.
It is just like the world today. People find reasons to treat praising Jesus with disrespect and disregard. Staying up late, deciding not to go to church, being tired and unfocused when in church. Our praises need to go to him for all he has done for us. My King has COME!!!!! I must not be like those in Jerusalem and not have Jesus COME.