Summary
As JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. More approaches Jerusalem days before his arrest and crucifixion, he arranges a prophetic demonstration in which he rides on a colt. Those who are with him respond by laying their cloaks on the road ahead of him, creating a kind of royal procession while they praise God and acclaim Jesus as king.
Analysis
All four Gospels describe a scene like this, in which Jesus nears Jerusalem on a small animal and people ascribe royal overtones to his actions. Christians remember the event, often called the “Triumphal Entry,” annually on Palm Sunday. Luke’s version of the story, however, makes no mention of palm fronds, only cloaks (compare 2 Kings 9:13).
Royal symbolism saturates the scene. For one thing, people in the ancient world were familiar with the image of a king or a victorious military commander riding into a city with much pomp. But this king rides a colt, not a warhorse, toward Jerusalem. Readers might recall Zechariah 9:9 (which is quoted in Matthew’s version of this scene, MatthewA tax collector who became one of Jesus' 12 disciples. More 21:5). Even more obvious is the cheer that all of Jesus’ followers offer: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” They cite PsalmA psalm is a song of praise. In the Old Testament 150 psalms comprise the psalter, although some of the psalms are laments and thanksgivings. In the New Testament early Christians gathered to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. More 118:26a, but they insert the noun “the king” (instead of “the one”), just in case anyone who watches and listens has failed to grasp the gist of the whole event.
The narrative is careful to indicate that Jesus has not yet arrived in Jerusalem but is nearing the city. This kind of royal street theater in the streets of Jerusalem itself, as the city’s population is swelling due to the coming of PassoverPassover commemorates the deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egypt as described in the book of Exodus. It is celebrated with worship and a meal on the fourteenth day of the month called Nisan, which is the first month of the Jewish year. The time... More, might lead to Jesus’ immediate arrest. Jesus and his disciples perform this prophetic “sign act” in front of a limited audience, therefore, and not as a grandiose display. That does not strip the procession of its significance, for it declares what it declares, no matter how few people might witness it. LukeThe "beloved physician" and companion of Paul. More does not let readers forget that the political climate in the city makes it an especially perilous place for someone to be acclaimed “king.” The Romans knew how to eliminate rival kings.
Luke reports that Pharisees in the crowd urge Jesus to silence his disciples, but he refuses. “The stones would shout out” if no one else does, meaning that Jesus has nothing to hide; his kingship is becoming known and plainly obvious to anyone with the correct insight. The Pharisees in this scene could very well be allies of Jesus’ or at least sympathetic to his cause. Luke does not unfairly portray all Pharisees as antagonistic toward Jesus. Nothing indicates that the Pharisees in this scene are angry or offended by the disciples who acclaim Jesus as a king arriving in Jerusalem. Possibly they simply recognize the danger of yelling about a king coming to Jerusalem as Passover is near. Roman authorities, present in higher numbers in anticipation of the festival, would have little tolerance for such claims. The Pharisees may be saying, in essence, “Easy, now, they are going to get us all killed with those kinds of declarations,” to which Jesus basically responds, “Too late!”
