Pastor Sam Crosby, First Baptist Church of San Saba
Palm Sunday celebrates the day that Jesus made His entrance into Jerusalem to proclaim Himself as Messiah – the long awaited Savior. His entrance was celebrated by many and criticized by others. Matthew’s gospel records, “And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (Matthew 21:10, NKJ). We refer to this event as The Triumphal Entry.
Jesus chose to ride a donkey in this grand parade. A military leader would have chosen a majestic white steed that would have placed him high above the crowd. The Son of God, of course, could have summoned any animal He wanted. The choice of a young donkey fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 62:11. Jesus was lowly and humble. He did not come to battle human armies and build an earthly empire. He came to conquer death and build a heavenly kingdom.
The Son of God entered into our world as a servant. He entered into Jerusalem to be the sacrifice for sin. He was on a mission that could only be accomplished by one who was both God and man. As God, He was the perfect and holy sacrifice needed to pay for sin. As man, He could actually die and shed His blood for the sins of men. The author of Hebrews explains, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death”
(Hebrews 2:14-15, NIV). We lived in bondage to the fear of dying. Jesus came to die and rise from the dead to break that bondage and set us free. Jesus came to conquer and destroy the works of the devil. He came to offer His life as a ransom for ours. He came to free us from the bondage of fear.
When He entered Jerusalem, the crowd cried, “Hosanna!,” which means, “Save us now!” They expected Him to overthrow the Roman rule and make Israel an independent and glorious nation again. His mission was much greater. His intention was to save the souls of men from the curse of sin. He came to make a way for sinful man to be born again. He came to earth so that one day we might go to heaven.
He came to provide salvation for all nations. After entering Jerusalem, He entered the temple and drove out those who had corrupted the faith and exploited the pilgrims. They had set up a market in the Court of the Gentiles. Jesus said, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of thieves” (Mark 11:17, NKJ). He came as Messiah for all nations and all people. He came to save me and you.