Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord: Palm Sunday-Matthew 21:1-11
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Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-11 and the Triumphal Entry
Jesus Sends Two Disciples to Bethpage - Matthew 21:1-3
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.
Prophecy Fulfilled: Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9 (Matthew 21:4-5)
Verses 4,5 - These actions fulfill Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9. The emphasis in these prophecies and Jesus' actions is on Jesus' humility.
The King Is Meek, Humble and Peaceful: Jesus Rides Into Jerusalem on a Donkey (Matthew 21:7)
Verse 7 - The disciples laid their clothes on both animals so that Christ could ride either one. Perhaps the mother donkey walked in front, followed by the colt on which Jesus was seated.
Why Jesus Rode a Donkey: The Humility of the Messiah
By choosing a donkey instead of a warhorse, He presents Himself as the Prince of Peace, bringing salvation rather than force.
The Royal Procession: Garments and Palm Branches on the Road (Matthew 21:8)
Verse 8 - This great multitude refers not to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (v 10), but to the large crowd that had accompanied Jesus from Jericho (20:29). the scene was a royal procession (see 2 Kings 9:13). Prior to this time, the Lord Jesus had steadfastly avoided such a display (8:4; 9:30; 12:16; 17:9).
Jesus Publicly Presented as the Nation's Messiah and King - Matthew 21:9
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!”
Now he was publicly presenting Himself to Israel as the nation's Messiah and King.
Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord - Psalm 118:26
"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" (v. 9), is a quotation of Psalm 118:26 -
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
Who Is This? Jerusalem's Response to the Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:10-11)
The City Was Moved: The Multitude's Answer; "This Is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee"
The intense commotion in Jerusalem upon Jesus' triumphal entry, with the city asking, "Who is this?" The crowds identify him as "Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee," marking a pivotal moment where Jesus is recognized publicly as the Messiah and King just before entering the Temple.
The Lamb of God: From Palm Sunday to Shedding His Blood and Dying on the Cross at Calvary to His Glorious Resurrection
Blessed Is the Lamb Who Came to Seek and Save the Lost (Luke 19:10)
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 19:10 is a pivotal verse summarizing Jesus's mission. It concludes the story of Zacchaeus, emphasizing that Jesus actively pursues, rescues, and offers salvation to those separated from God, regardless of their reputation.
Jesus does not wait for the lost to find Him; He searches for them. Blessed is our Lord and Savior who came to seek and to save the lost. Salvation is a gift initiated by God's Love and Mercy, not by human effort.
Crucified, Risen, and Seated at the Right Hand of the Father
Blessed is the Lamb of God, who went to Calvary, shed His Blood, died on the Cross for you and for me, and He raised from the dead three days later, and is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, interceding for us! We have and serve a Risen, Living Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.