Fully Devoted: JesusSample

An Extravagant Entrance

Jesus is making His final approach to Jerusalem, the “city of peace”. It’s in this very city that Jesus will be arrested, tried, and sentenced to die for crimes He didn’t commit. His body will be brutalized and He will breathe His last on a Roman cross. 

But even in this moment, as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem publicly fulfilling messianic prophecies, He does so with such humility and purpose. It’s no wonder the people make a huge deal about it. Not only do they recognize Jesus for all His miracles, but they also see Him in stark contrast with their oppressors, the Romans. 

See, Jesus arrives on a young donkey with a dozen dusty, smelly guys, most of whom are not even old enough to be considered taxable citizens! He’s this traveling teacher whose reputation precedes Him. With no formal announcement, crowds gather to welcome Him to the city. And they welcome Him as a king. There’s shouting and dancing in the streets: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9 NIV). People are literally ripping off their jackets and laying them in the mud for His donkey to walk on. They’re begging and believing for Jesus to save them! 

Now picture this. At about the same time, another well-known figure enters the city. Trumpets announce his arrival. He’s surrounded by dozens of armed Roman soldiers. He’s not known for his compassionate hand in the lives of citizens, but for his oppressive leadership. He sits high on a horse trained for war, with fine robes draped over him. This is Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, who served as an extension of the emperor of Rome, who claimed to be the son of a god. Pontius Pilate carried all the pomp and circumstance that came with his title. The people do not celebrate his coming; they dread it. 

At the triumphal entry, the contrast between God’s Kingdom and the kingdoms of this world are on full display. Jesus’ Kingdom and kingship are altogether different. His authority is defined by His integrity, His humility, and His compassion. His Kingdom is not about power or prestige, but service and sacrifice. Jesus knew He was coming to die, to give His life for the very people whose shouts of “Hosanna” would soon turn to shouts of “Crucify Him!” But He came anyway. Because Jesus didn’t come just to tell us about the love of God—He could have done that from heaven. No, He came to show us the love of God in person so we could begin to understand just how different His Kingdom is from the kingdoms of this world. 

Luke’s account of Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem ends with these words: 

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it  and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19:41-44 NIV 

With the threat of the cross looming in front of Him, Jesus cries for His people. Not even the pain of crucifixion can blot out His compassion. Compassion that carries Him into the city where His death awaits. Compassion that carries Him to confront the corruption of the priests and the Pharisees. Compassion that carries Him to a hill called Calvary and a cross where He will give up His life for the sins of the world. 

Journaling Questions

• What verse stands out to you the most from today’s reading? Write it in your journal.
• If someone asked you what makes Jesus different from any other leaders from world history, what would you tell them? 
• The word compassion comes from the Latin word that means “suffer with.” How does that understanding of compassion change the way you think about how you can best love the people in your life?