Palm Sunday Notes

 

Matthew 21:1-11

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 

 

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 

 

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say*, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 

 

4 All* this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 

 

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 

 

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 

 

7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon*. 

 

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 

 

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 

 

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 

 

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

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First-century Jewish messianic expectations were diverse but centered on the hope for a future king from the line of David. This expectation was rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, promising a king who would rule with justice and restore Israel's sovereignty. While the term "Messiah" initially applied to anointed figures, it increasingly denoted this future, eschatological Davidic king during the Second Temple period. Texts like the Psalms of Solomon described this awaited "son of David" as a righteous king who would liberate Israel and purify Jerusalem.

A dominant aspect of these messianic expectations was a political and military dimension. Many Jews anticipated a Messiah who would be a powerful leader to defeat Israel's enemies, primarily Rome, and establish an independent kingdom in Jerusalem. This hope was particularly fervent during times of Roman occupation, like the first century. The Passover festival, commemorating the Exodus from slavery, further fueled these desires for liberation. It is likely that many of the crowds welcoming Jesus held this perspective, viewing his arrival during Passover as potentially signaling a revolt against Roman rule.

However, it's important to note that messianic expectations were not uniform. Some groups anticipated multiple Messiahs (royal and priestly), others expected a prophetic figure like Elijah or Moses, and apocalyptic literature envisioned a heavenly "Son of Man". There was also the concept of a suffering servant in some scriptures, though this was not the dominant popular expectation. Additionally, not all groups, like the Sadducees, were equally invested in messianic speculation.

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, as narrated in all four Gospels, occurred as he and his followers approached the city near the Mount of Olives, shortly before Passover. He orchestrated the procurement of a donkey or a colt, often one that had never been ridden. As he rode into Jerusalem, he was greeted by enthusiastic crowds who spread their cloaks and branches (identified as palm branches by John) on the road, shouting praises including "Hosanna" and phrases linking him to Davidic kingship.

Jesus' entry engaged with these messianic expectations in complex ways:

• Alignment with Prophecy: Jesus' deliberate choice to ride a donkey, specifically a colt, was a clear fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which described the coming king as "lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey". Matthew's Gospel explicitly links this action to the prophecy. This action served as a public claim to his messianic identity.
• Royal Acclamations: The crowds' shouts of "Hosanna" and their use of titles like "Son of David," "King of Israel," and "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord" directly echoed messianic hopes and recognized Jesus as a figure of royal significance. The acclamation "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" is a direct quote from Psalm 118:26, a psalm with messianic undertones often associated with Passover.
• Challenge to Expectations: Despite the messianic fervor, the nature of Jesus' kingship, symbolized by the humble donkey, contrasted sharply with the prevailing expectation of a military and political deliverer. Riding a donkey was a symbol of peace and humility, unlike the warhorses associated with conquering kings. This deliberate choice signaled that Jesus' kingdom was not to be established through force against Rome.
• Misunderstanding and Shifting Sentiment: The crowd's understanding of Jesus' messiahship was likely rooted in the dominant expectation of political liberation. When Jesus did not immediately act to overthrow the Roman authorities and instead focused on spiritual matters and even spoke of his impending suffering and death, this fundamental mismatch led to a rapid shift in public sentiment, from enthusiastic welcome to demands for his crucifixion.
• Redefining Messiahship: Jesus' actions during the Triumphal Entry, particularly his choice of the donkey and the prophecy he fulfilled, can be seen as a conscious effort to redefine messiahship away from militaristic expectations towards a humble and peace-oriented reign. This redefinition, however, contributed to his rejection by those whose hopes were fixed on a different kind of savior.

In essence, Jesus' Triumphal Entry was a deliberate and symbolic event that both tapped into and challenged the first-century Jewish messianic expectations. While the crowds hailed him with messianic fervor based on their hopes for a political deliverer, Jesus' actions and the symbolism of his entry pointed towards a different understanding of his kingship and mission, one centered on humility, peace, and ultimately, sacrificial love. This clash of expectations played a crucial role in the events that unfolded during Holy Week.