What Kind of Car Do You Think Jesus Would Drive? - Jesus Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-11

The Beginning of Jesus' Last Week

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 

Jesus had often reiterated that it was not yet time for him to reveal the true nature of who he was and what his purpose was.  Now is the time.  

"If Jesus had not deliberately suppressed the popular enthusiasm over Him and His credentials as Messiah – if Jesus had wanted it, this would have happened long ago and many times." (Guzik)

“Jesus could not have chosen a more dramatic moment; it was into a city surging with people keyed up with religious expectations that he came.” (Barclay)

2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 

Jesus already knew what lay ahead of him and that he would be arrested, mocked, tortured and crucified.  (Matthew 20:19) So this was one of the last teachings he would give, and in this case it would be a parable he acted out. 

This scene was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9.  Some people say Jesus arranged the prophecies so he could fulfill them.  In this case Jesus could not have manipluated the situation to fit what happens in this story.  

"Mark and Luke say the animal was so young that it had never been ridden. In the midst, then, of this excited crowd, an unbroken animal remains calm under the hands of the Messiah who controls nature.” (Carson)

3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This is an interesting saying.  What does the Lord need and why?  Jesus was obviously tired and needed transportation, but there was a larger message here.

"Hath need of them: not for any weariness: he who had travelled on foot from Galilee to Bethany, could have gone the other two miles; but that he might enter into Jerusalem as was prophesied of him, Zechariah 9:9.” (Poole)

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion,‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

This is the quote from Zechariah 9:9. Importantly we see the juxtaposition between a king (royalty), who rides on a donkey, a beast of burden.  

"Instead of coming on a horse as a conquering general, He came on a colt, as was customary for royalty. He came to Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace." (Guzik)

Daughter of Zion' generally refers to Jerusalem or the Jewish people. 

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 

"The true obedience of Christ’s disciples is to be learned from the practice of these two disciples: they dispute not the commands of their Lord, nor make objections, nor raise any disputes, nor are afraid of any danger to themselves; they went, and that speedily, and are exact to what their Lord had commanded them; accordingly they find as he had said." (Poole)

7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 

The disciples still wanted to make the donkey as comfortable as possible for Jesus so they put their cloaks on him.

8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 

The crowd also responded similarly putting their cloaks on the road showing their respect for him. 

"All this was done to honor Jesus as a great, triumphant person coming into Jerusalem in the season of Passover." Guzik

"Carrying palm and other branches was emblematical of victory and success." (Guzik)

9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Tbese are all shouts of acclamation. Though Jesus has not taught very much about him being the Messiah, the shouts of crowds shouts show they might have some clues.  Hosanna is a shout that means, "God saves", or "Save us now!" "Son of David" is a term that comes from the royal covenant God made with David, where the Messiah would come from house and the line of David.  "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" is a verse from Psalm 118:26

These crowds seem to be Jews who made the connection of these Old Testament verses with Jesus.  

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

"It was here, before He entered the city, that He looked over the city and wept, knowing the judgment that would come upon Jerusalem."(Luke 19:41-44).

We also should remember that it was the "Feast of Passover", which is also why there were crowds.  The word "stirred" is also translated "moved".  There was excitement in the air.  A sense of anticipation that something great was about to happen.  To a people who had been so depressed and downtrodden for many years, this awakened a new bright sense of hope.  

Some commentators think those who asked this question might have been the Gentiles or foreigners, who were seeing Jesus for the first time. 

The excitement also led to curiosity when they quipped, "Who is this?"  Sometimes in the throes of excitement people forget what or who it is they are cheering for. 

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Later the crowds will yell, "Crucify him, crucify him!" But today they are calling Jesus, "the prophet from Nazareth:.  

"This continues the earlier identification of Jesus with Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). It would sound strange to many – especially to the religious establishment – that a prophet would come from the obscure and unnoted city of Nazareth." (Guzik)

If Jesus were to drive into town what car would he drive?  Do you think the disciples knew the significance of what they were doing when they went to get the donkeys?  Are you willing to obey Jesus even though you might not know why Jesus is asking you to do it?  Why was it so important that Jesus fulfill prophecy from the Old Testament?  What should this teach us about the prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled?  I.e. the Book of Revelation