When Jesus Came to Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11
It was on that day that Jesus son of Joseph put forward his claim to kingship. He was the long awaited king who would take over the throne of David as king of the Jews (and a whole lot more).
Over the past months we have looked at the ministry of Jesus… what he taught, His lessons, His parables, His course corrections on the law and its application. The people of his day accepted Him as a prophet and teacher… perhaps even recognizing him as the one mentioned in Deut 18:15-19
Until this point Jesus had proclaimed the coming KOG but never put himself forward as the king of the kingdom. Many of the things he said implied it, and He never denied who He was… but he asked His followers to keep it on the quiet until the time was right.
John 6:15 when the crowds wanted to proclaim Him king… he quickly sidestepped the issue. Accepting kingship on their terms would have created a king and a kingdom of a very different character that what God has planned.
The KOG would not be a kingdom “of this world” or of the ways of this world. It would not be established on popular favor but on righteousness. Actually Jesus would accomplish the kingdom’s objectives through popular REJECTION. Because that rejection would be complete Him as the new High Priest of the KOG… a completion gained through suffering.
But on that day and through that act Jesus was proclaiming presenting himself as king (lest anyone say He never came forward and made the claim). Let’s review how he made this proclamation.
Not popular election / Not revolution / Not a palace coup / WHAT?
Jesus used prophetic fulfillment! He rides a young donkey in through the gates of the city. Not a word is said… no trumpeters heralding His arrival, no pomp, no ceremony. Nothing was done that would arouse the jealousy of the Roman government. To them He would be just an ordinary guy riding a donkey into town.
But to those with a knowledge and understanding of scripture and of prophecy… the timing and the manner of Jesus entry into Jerusalem that day meant a great deal.
Verse 4 refers to a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9
Note: guys rode into Jerusalem on donkeys all the time. But as with his birth the stage was set and expectations were high. Jesus’ three years of performing miracles had attracted a lot of attention. Of special interest was the resurrection of Lazarus (an act which really riled up the chief priests and scribes and made them determined to bring Him down). But to the common people Jesus was a sort of folk hero. Vast crowds turned out to see Jesus enter the city of the king.
Jesus entry to Jerusalem was well timed for maximum effect. Based on Roman records of the time there would have been an estimated 2.5 million people in Jerusalem for Passover. For the purposes of biblical authority… this meant there were lots of witnesses to all that would take place that week.
Jesus had orchestrated and planned this event. It was part of the prophesied works of the Messiah and had to be fulfilled.
Why All The Theatrics?
- The theatrical nature of the event was one used by the prophets of old. When words were not enough to get the point across God had them perform a dramatic and symbolic action that would say more than words ever could.
- It also, served the purpose of drawing the attention of this large crowd of witnesses to the fulfillment of scripture taking place before their eyes.
- Sent a clear message about the nature of the KOG and especially its king
A King Who Is Humble & Lowly
The kingship of Jesus Christ is one of lowliness rather than pride. Just as He had been teaching His followers… He was not there to be served, pampered, flattered, groveled to… He was there to serve. And His greatest act of service was coming upon Him quickly… namely the sacrifice of His own life to pay the penalty for your sin.
Jesus was not asserting Himself over Caesar but clearly He was more a king than any mere man. Read about the lives of the Caesars and the contrast is clear. Modern leaders – same.
- He had knowledge of everyone… without a secret police
- He had power over others without an army
- All He needed to was ask and His kingly wish was fulfilled
- He had the heart of a caring and concerned shepherd of His people. He felt deeply their burdens, worries, fears, sins and all that held them back from the good things God wanted for them Luke 19:41-44
A Kingdom of Peace
Here is where the prophetic fulfillment is especially significant… and surely must have been picked up by the crowd. A king who rode into a city on with horse and chariot exuded a message of conquest, war, and power. To the Romans a donkey was looked down upon as unworthy of a king. In the eastern world that was not the case. A king riding into a city on a donkey was a well known symbol of peace and peaceful intentions.
Zechariah 9:9-11 read the verses that follow the prophecy and the statement being made is clear. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of peace… where they will not learn the ways of war anymore.
Some at least in the crowd seemed to perceive this. Perhaps they were familiar with the context of the prophecy which includes a covenant of blood that provides hope of freedom and rescue. So they cry out… Hosanna.
Hosanna is one of those bible type words that has long since lost its original meaning… when we hear it we hear a exclamation of praise. The original meaning of the word is “save-now” “yaw,shaw-naw”. Therefore it is a cry for deliverance. So, they are crying “save us now… deliver us now”! Specifically they are quoting from Psalm 118:25 (read whole Psalm – comment). Luke 19:38 specifically refers to king (son of David)
Jerusalem: The City of the Great King
Matthew 21:12-17 – Jesus is the great king of the kingdom (KOG) and Jerusalem is His city. Within that city is the temple… which is His house / His palace. Note: He has them from God the Father. Naturally He proceeds to His house (comment on sequence). But He’s not happy about what He finds there.
Purging The Temple
Jesus the King begins clearing out the house of God. Background: There where a couple of specific activities mentioned here:
Moneychanging – there was a payment of a temple tax. It had to be made in the right currency, so all the foreign visitors would have to exchange their coins etc. for the temple shekel or Galilean shekels. There were fees involved… but based on other source there was a great deal of price gouging involved.
Selling animals – only unblemished animals could be offered on the altar. They would be inspected by the priests. If the animal was found to have a blemish they could buy another unblemished one from the stalls in the outer court of the temple. Note: the stalls at this time just happened to be the private property of Annas (the Godfather of the high priesthood at the time). Again price gouging, hypocrisy etc.
Both these functions were legit on their face value but were perverted by gross abuse and corruption.
Jesus’ fiercest anger (one of the few times He really lets loose) is directed against those who exploit others… especially those who exploit in the name of religion… using the name and authority of God in vain! Also, such exploitation would also block innocent folks from worship… which was the proper use of the temple.
Jeremiah 7:1-11 / Isaiah 56:7
Malachi 3:1 another prophecy fulfilled (discuss context)
This cleansing of the temple is a fulfillment of prophecy… (soft prophecy). But is it a prophecy that is completely fulfilled… does it have an application for the end-time? The second coming of Jesus Christ? If so where is the temple?
Revelation 3:14-22
The prophecies of the great king say He comes with “salvation close at hand”. Jesus doesn’t kick everyone out. He heals those who are blind and the lame. Perhaps you are sitting in the temple of God which is the body of Christ… perhaps you are among the blind and the lame… if you are then perhaps now is the time to pray for healing.
Bearing Fruit
Matthew 21:18-22 – not too much needs to be said here. The withered fig tree is a sad symbol of the impending fate of Israel and the entire temple / sacrificial system. They don’t know it but they are being judged… found to be without the fruit God desires… and they are going to be destroyed (39 years away 70 AD.)
This is Jesus only act of judgment/ He gave many warnings, many calls to change their ways, but He never punished. The closest He ever came was to use this barren tree as an object lesson, or a dramatic symbol of what lay ahead. But instead of dwelling on the doom ahead Jesus points their attention to… the power faith and the value of prayer. Judgment, destruction, wrath are not what God desires… but He will use it in the end. That judgment has been given to Chirst.
Faith and Prayer… this is what our Lord and Master… the great King desires in the house of God…. the temple of God… the body of Christ.
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