The Return of the King (Matthew 21:1-22)
When Jesus enters Jerusalem, there is a statement being made. The King has come! But where the crowd is caught up in temporary emotion and the disciples are destined to be disappointed; Jesus is under no misapprehensions that things might go well. He is headed to the cross.
When we understand that, we realize that the “Hosannas” and all the excitement of the crowd are meaningless. The King does not need the praises to validate Him. He has arrived in power and authority whether the subjects accept that or not. And their praise does nothing to empower Him. In fact, He begins to demonstrate that power right away more powerfully than the fickle crowd ever could. He sets about declaring that the powers in place up to that point are through. From this point right through the Woes in 23, the religious system and its leaders are condemned.
When we think of Jesus Triumphal Entry, we think of the shouting crowds, the celebration. But we ought to think more about Jesus’ actions. He wastes no time in tearing down the self-righteousness of the people of God. As the people of God today, we ought to have that reality in mind when we consider our own systems of righteousness. What is Jesus going to cast out when He returns again?
When we understand that, we realize that the “Hosannas” and all the excitement of the crowd are meaningless. The King does not need the praises to validate Him. He has arrived in power and authority whether the subjects accept that or not. And their praise does nothing to empower Him. In fact, He begins to demonstrate that power right away more powerfully than the fickle crowd ever could. He sets about declaring that the powers in place up to that point are through. From this point right through the Woes in 23, the religious system and its leaders are condemned.
When we think of Jesus Triumphal Entry, we think of the shouting crowds, the celebration. But we ought to think more about Jesus’ actions. He wastes no time in tearing down the self-righteousness of the people of God. As the people of God today, we ought to have that reality in mind when we consider our own systems of righteousness. What is Jesus going to cast out when He returns again?
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