And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, 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. (Luke 19:37-38)
THE KING
On “Palm Sunday” the Lord Jesus Christ made His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. According to the historian Josephus, this particular Passover season around 256,500 lambs were slain in the temple. Each sacrificial lamb would represent about ten people. This put the population of Jerusalem between two and three million people. “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world,” would present Himself as King before a tremendous crowd of pilgrims, citizens, and disciples. This multitude clearly understood the significance of this triumphal entry and confirmed Christ as Messiah: “Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19:38)
“This was a deliberate claim to be king, a deliberate fulfilling of the picture in Zechariah 9:9. But even in this Jesus underlined the kind of kingship which he claimed. The donkey in Palestine was not the lowly beast that it is in this country, it was noble. Only in war did kings ride upon a horse; when they came in peace they came upon a donkey. So Jesus by this action came as a king of love and peace, and not as the conquering military hero whom the tumultuous crowds expected and awaited. This was one last appeal. Even now will you take me as your king?” – William Barclay
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)
“Hosanna,” the crowd cried, meaning “save now!” Palm branches were waved symbolizing victory. However, this fickle crowd would quickly turn on Jesus crucifying their King:
And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. (John 19:14-15)
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. (John 19:19)
Our saving Sovereign would win the victory by offering up His perfect life on the cross, dying for sin, and rising again on the third day. King Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave! (I Cor. 15:55-56)
“A Roman general would have to kill five thousand enemy soldiers to have a glorious victory and a ticker tape parade. Christ would have five thousand souls in the first many months after his resurrection.” – Warren Weirsbe
The Conquering King is coming again! His next coming He will not be riding lowly donkey but a white horse.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)
THE COLT
“…Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.” (Luke 19:30)
The King of Kings knew all about His humble colt. He knew where it was, how it was tied up, and that it had never been ridden. Jesus told us in “The Sermon on The Mount” that the Heavenly Father knows and cares for the humblest of animals. His eyes are on the sparrow. He feeds the birds and that we are of much more value than many sparrows.
We can take comfort in the fact that our King knows us. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep by name, He leads them, He Feeds them, and He laid down His life for them (John 10). The King knew His colt and He knows about you and me.
The Colt Was Redeemed.
The only two things born unclean according to the ceremonial law were a firstborn child and a firstborn donkey. Both had to be redeemed by the blood of a lamb.
And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. (Exodus 13:13)
The Colt Was Redeemed For A Reason.
And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. Luke 19:31, 33-34)
Christ gave two of His disciples a “great” commission: go “loose” the donkey! The reason: “The Lord hath need of him.” This little colt was loosed for a reason. He got the greatest privilege of any donkey ever! He got to carry the King of Kings!
The witness of the gospel came to us by Christ’s disciples for a reason. We were “loosed” by the power of the gospel from the slave markets of sin for a purpose: “The Lord hath need of him/her!”
Typically, an unbroken and unridden colt is a bucking, braying, and biting nightmare. However, this colt let the Lord rule over him, guide him, and control him.
You and I can take away a great lesson from this redeemed colt. We too carry the King! We can let the Lord take the reins of our heart and lead us wherever He wants us to go. Our life should be a coronation service for the King the Kings!