10 Nisan An entrance for a king

On the 10th of Nisan, the day the Hebrews were each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household (Exodus 12:3), Jesus came to Jerusalem to do according to the law and to have a paschal lamb, ‘days later on 14 Nisan, with his closest friends.

Jesus had lodged at Bethany, a village not far from Jerusalem, for some time; at a supper there the night before Mary had taken a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly to anoint the feet of Jesus, (John 12:3).

Jesus travelled much, and his custom was to travel on foot from Galilee to Jerusalem, some scores of miles, which was both humbling and toilsome; many a dirty weary step he had when he went about doing good.This time he knew his time had come and asked to get an ass so he could fulfil the prophecy of Zechariah and people would come to see the sent one from God as a king.

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king {Or King } comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zec 9:9 NIV)

On previous occasions, when the people sought to make Jesus a king, after witnessing his marvellous works, he withdrew himself from them to wait for their ardour to cool, knowing that the Father’s time was not yet due. This time he was aware the time had come, his heavenly Father wanting him to present himself as a paschal Lamb before God. Instead of hindering he helped on the enthusiasm of the folks by sending for a colt and to have cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. Their laying the garments upon the ass, and throwing them in the way, was a custom they used towards princes, as appears not only by many records out of profane authors, but from 2 Kings 9:13, where the like was done to Jehu, upon his being anointed king over Israel. For the acclamations, they were also such as were usual to princes.

And many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

Can you imagine the faces of his disciples who at last saw their dream of their master becoming king coming closer. The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying,

Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Previously there had been the wise men from the east who had looked for the one who had to be anointed as king. Now the people at the gates of Jerusalem looked on Jesus as the anointed one, the Son of David and the Messiah. The Pharisees (some of which it seemed had mixed themselves with this multitude) were troubled at the acclamation, and (as Luke tells us) asked the Nazarene to rebuke them; but he answered,

If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

It is a proverbial expression, the sense of which is alone to be attended. The sense is this:

The time is come, set by my Father for the publication of my kingdom, and declaring what I am; and when God’s time is come the thing must come to pass, by one means or another. If these children of Abraham should hold their peace, God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham, and they should do the same thing, publish me as the Son of David, the King in Zion.

John also gives us some account of this, (John 12:12-13)

Assisi frescoes Entry into Jerusalem – Pietro Lorenzetti. Assisi, Lower Basilica, San Francesco, southern transept

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Preceding

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 3:13-17 – Jesus Declared God’s Son at His Baptism

Matthew 21:1-3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sent Ahead for a Donkey

Matthew 21:4-5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Your King Is Coming upon a Donkey

Matthew 21:6-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Blessed the One Coming in God’s Name!

God’s Face shining on His servant

Multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David

Matthew 2:7-12 – Pawns of Herod, the Magi Find the ‘Child’

Nazarene Commentary Luke 3:21-23 – The Baptism of Christ

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Additional reading

1. Entrance of a king to question our position #1 Coming in the Name of the Lord
2. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be

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Related

1. Feast of Sts. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany (July 29)
2. A Beautiful Thing
3. Extravagant Love
4. Easter Week: Anointing
5. Will You Anoint Him?
6. Anointing They say that scent is the closest sense to memory
7. The Davidic Covenant
8. Daily Devotional for 4 April 2018 – Matthew 21:9
9. Hosanna In The Highest! (Matthew 21:9)