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Jesus Acclaimed as Israel’s King
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the talk of every tongue and bring Jesus before every mind. After
His crucifixion, many would remember these events and be led to
search the prophecies. They would be convinced that Jesus was the
Messiah.
This day, which seemed to the disciples like the crowning day
of their lives, would have been shadowed with clouds if they had
known it was only a prelude to the death of their Master. He had
told them repeatedly about His sacrifice, yet in the glad triumph they
had forgotten His sorrowful words.
With few exceptions, all who joined the procession caught the
inspiration of the hour. The shouts went up continually,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
No Train of Mourning in This Triumph
Never had the world seen such a triumphal procession. All
around the Savior were the glorious trophies of His loving labors
for sinful man. These were the captives rescued from Satan’s power.
Leading the way were the blind He had restored to sight. Those who
had been mute, whose tongues He had loosed, shouted the loudest
hosannas. Cripples whom He had healed leaped with joy. Lepers
He had cleansed spread their uncontaminated garments in His path.
Awakened from the sleep of death, Lazarus led the donkey on which
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the Savior rode.
Many Pharisees, burning with envy, tried to silence the people,
but their appeals and threats only increased the enthusiasm. As a last
resort they confronted the Savior with condemning and threatening
words: “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” They declared that such
noisy demonstrations were unlawful. But Jesus’ reply silenced
them: “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would
immediately cry out.” The prophet Zechariah had foretold that scene
of triumph. If human beings had failed to carry out the plan, God
would have given voice to inanimate stones, and they would have
hailed His Son with praise. As the silenced Pharisees drew back,
hundreds of voices took up the words of Zechariah: