Following Jesus: The Triumphant Entry - A Moment of Divine Recognition

The Triumphant Entry: A Moment of Divine Recognition

As we approach the holiest week in the Christian calendar, our hearts and minds turn to a pivotal moment in history - the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This event, often referred to as Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of a week that would change the course of humanity forever.

Picture the scene: A man riding on a humble donkey, approaching the great city of Jerusalem. But this was no ordinary man, and this was no ordinary day. As Jesus made His way from Bethany, over the Mount of Olives, and towards Jerusalem, something extraordinary began to unfold.

The air was electric with anticipation. People had heard about this Jesus - His teachings, His miracles, and most recently, an astonishing event that had taken place just a week earlier. In nearby Bethany, Jesus had done the unthinkable - He had raised Lazarus from the dead. This wasn't just another healing or a minor miracle; this was an act that only God Himself could perform.

As news of this miracle spread, people began to see Jesus in a new light. Was He more than just a rabbi or a prophet? Could He be the long-awaited Messiah?

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, crowds began to swell. They weren't just curious onlookers; they were passionate worshippers. In a spontaneous outpouring of adoration, people began to lay their cloaks on the road before Him. They cut palm branches and waved them, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"
These weren't just empty words or mindless chants. The crowd was making a bold declaration about who they believed Jesus to be. By shouting "Hosanna" and referencing the kingdom of David, they were proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, the promised deliverer who would sit on David's throne.

This was a risky move. To declare someone as the Messiah, if it wasn't true, would have been considered blasphemy - a crime punishable by death. Yet the crowd was convinced. They had seen the signs, witnessed the miracles, and now they were ready to acknowledge Jesus as their long-awaited King.

The worship that day was uninhibited and exuberant. It wasn't a carefully choreographed religious ceremony, but a spontaneous outpouring of joy and recognition. People were stripping off their outer garments, laying them on the road for Jesus to pass over - an act of submission and honor. It was reminiscent of the time when King David danced with abandon before the Ark of the Covenant, so overcome was he with joy at God's presence.
As the procession made its way into Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred. "Who is this?" people asked. The answer came back: "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee." No longer was He seen as just a teacher or a miracle worker. Now He was recognized as a prophet - one who speaks on behalf of God Himself.

But not everyone was pleased with this turn of events. The Pharisees, religious leaders who prided themselves on their strict adherence to the law, were deeply troubled. They urged Jesus to rebuke His disciples, to silence the crowd. But Jesus' response was profound: "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."

In saying this, Jesus wasn't just being poetic. He was referencing a prophecy from Isaiah 55, which speaks of the day when the Messiah would come and all of creation would burst forth in praise. Jesus was essentially telling the Pharisees: "Open your eyes. The very words of Scripture are being fulfilled before you."
This triumphant entry marked a significant shift in how people viewed Jesus. But it was just the beginning. Throughout the Scriptures, we find numerous declarations about who Jesus is:

• Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
• He declared, "Before Abraham was, I am," equating Himself with the great "I AM" of the Old Testament. (John 8:58)
• The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind. (1 Timothy 2:5)
• John's Gospel opens with the powerful statement that Jesus is the Word, who was with God in the beginning and who is God. (John 1:1)

Even the Old Testament prophets spoke of Him. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 provide detailed accounts of the suffering and purpose of the coming Messiah, prophecies that Jesus would fulfill in the days following His triumphant entry.
As we reflect on this moment in history, we're faced with a crucial question: How do we respond to Jesus? The crowd on that first Palm Sunday recognized Him as King and responded with unbridled worship. The Pharisees, despite the evidence before them, chose to reject Him.

The Scriptures tell us that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But we have a choice now - will we acknowledge Him willingly, out of love and surrender, or will we be compelled to do so later?
The invitation of Palm Sunday is clear: Come and follow Jesus. It's an invitation to surrender our lives, to declare Him as Lord, to align our will with His. It's a call to worship Him not just with our words, but with our entire lives.

For some, this might mean making a first-time decision to follow Jesus. For others, it might involve recommitting areas of life that have drifted away from His lordship. And for many, it's simply a reminder to continually surrender, to daily take up our cross and follow Him.
As we enter this holy week, let's take a moment to kneel - physically if we're able, but certainly in our hearts. Let's surrender ourselves anew to Jesus, acknowledging Him as our King, our Savior, our Lord. Let's allow the truth of who He is to stir our hearts to worship, just as it did for that crowd in Jerusalem so many years ago.

May we, like those first palm-waving worshippers, recognize Jesus for who He truly is. And may our lives become a continuous procession of praise, declaring to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.