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Chapter 63—Jesus Acclaimed as Israel’s King
This chapter is based on
Matthew 21:1-11
;
Mark 11:1-10
;
Luke
19:29-44
;
John 12:12-19
.
Five hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet
Zechariah foretold the coming of the King to Israel: “Rejoice greatly,
O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy
King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly and
riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
Zechariah 9:9
.
He who had so long refused royal honors now came to Jerusalem as
the promised heir to David’s throne.
On the first day of the week Christ made His triumphal entry.
Multitudes who had flocked to see Him at Bethany accompanied
Him. Many on their way to keep the Passover joined the multitude.
All nature seemed to rejoice. The trees were clothed with verdure,
and their blossoms shed a delicate fragrance. The hope of the new
kingdom was again springing up.
Jesus had sent two disciples to bring Him an ass and its colt.
Although “the cattle on a thousand hills” (
Psalm 50:10
) are His, He
was dependent on a stranger’s kindness for an animal on which to
enter Jerusalem as its King. But again His divinity was revealed,
even in the minute directions given. As He foretold, the plea, “The
Lord hath need of them,” was readily granted. The disciples spread
their garments on the beast and seated their Master on it. Jesus had
always traveled on foot, and the disciples wondered that He should
now choose to ride. But hope brightened in their hearts with the
thought that He was about to enter the capital, proclaim Himself
King, and assert His royal power. Excitement spread far and near,
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raising the expectations of the people to the highest pitch.
Christ was following the Jewish custom for a royal entry.
Prophecy had foretold that thus the Messiah should come to His
kingdom. No sooner was He seated on the colt than the multitude
hailed Him as Messiah, their King. The disciples and the multitude
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