The Triumphant Entry

During Jesus’ last week leading to his crucifixion on Calvary, forty-eight events are recorded in Scripture. The first event to occur was Christ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

A Prophecy was about to be fulfilled as the multitudes gathered in the Holy City in preparation for the Passover. Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

In tribute to the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, I want to draw attention to the fact that Jesus rode into the Holy City on a colt, the foal of a donkey. In the Old Testament, a colt was a noble animal, it was used for service and to carry the burdens of men; perhaps more importantly, it was used by Kings. When they entered a city in peace, they rode a colt to symbolize their peaceful intentions. When a King entered a city as a conqueror, he rode a stallion.

Jesus did not enter Jerusalem on a white stallion but on a humble colt coming with peace, not to destroy governments but to save men. Today, most people want power and authority, seldom do we find people that are humble and full of peace. It is amazing that the omnipotent Christ would choose to humble Himself and ride in peace. Jesus’ humility would further be demonstrated a week later when He would offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God to be sacrificed for the sins of the whole world.

I believe humility is the key to living a triumphant life. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:6b, 10).”

In the nineties, I remember reading a Tallahassee Democrat article in the sports section about the invincibility of the Florida State football team. The journalist was reporting on the possibility of the Seminoles never losing an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football game. I recall thinking that the article was quite audacious at the time. Even comments by some of the players on the FSU team seemed to indicate that they thought it was impossible for any ACC opponent to beat them.

Immediately Proverbs 16:18 began to resonate in my mind. It says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” The Seminoles next ACC contest was an away game against the Virginia Cavaliers. Florida State would end up losing the game and suffering their first Atlantic Coast Conference loss. Did the content and comments in the article have anything to do with the loss or was it just coincidence?

The triumphant entry of Jesus was just the very beginning of His last ministry in Jerusalem during the Holy week. Let us learn from this day and remember that Jesus our true Messiah humbly entered Jerusalem to save all men.