8 Days: The Entry

8 Days: The Entry
Matthew 1:1-11
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples
2 and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.
3 If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'"
4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.
5 And some of those standing there said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"
6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.
8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"
11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The book of Mark (8:31, 10:33, 45) is seemingly a build up to Christ's demise. He himself spends a good portion of time warning his disciples about what is coming. And yet, when his disciples arrive on the scene in Jerusalem expecting the worst, they are greeted with full acceptance. They arrive looking for a donkey to borrow, nay-TAKE, and no one minds at all. Can you imagine their confusion? 

They walk into Jerusalem expecting Jesus to be immediately confronted by conflict. But instead they are greeted with praising and rejoicing.

And yet....

He entered the city on a young donkey...not a beautiful and powerful horse, but the people rejoiced as though it was. (Zechariah 9:9, psalm 118:25) why? These Jews knew the prophecy of old. They knew that their Messiah would arrive on a young colt.  They recognized the signs, but their expectations were off...they were expecting their Messiah to arise and kick Rome and their ruling powers to the curb.  

Jesus had zero ambitions of sitting on an earthly throne (Mark 10:42-45). His expectations were not any that the people could understand. Even his disciples were confused...Why else did Jesus continually warn them about the upcoming events?  Look at Peter, Thomas, and even Judas.... They did not yet have a full understanding of what Christ had come to do.  They did not yet have an understanding of what the purpose of the Messiah was.

And yet he did it anyway.  He died for people who hated him.  For those who did not recognize him. And even for those who turned their backs on him....