The Day of Jesus' Triumphal Entry

On Sunday, Nisan 9, Jesus comes to Jerusalem triumphantly.  As he approaches the city-riding on the colt of an ass in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 -most of the people that have gathered around him spread their outer garments on the road,while others cut branches from the trees and spread them bout.  "Blessed is the One coming as the  as the King in Jehovah's name!" They cry.  Some Pharisees in the crowd want Jesus to rebuke  his disciples.  However, Jesus replies:  "I tell you,if these remained silent, the stones would cry out." -Luke 19:38-40; Matthew 21:6-9. 

Just a few weeks earlier, many in the crowd had seen Jesus resurrect Lazarus. Now theses keep telling others about that miracle. So as Jesus enters Jerusalem, the whole city is set in commotion.  "Who is this?"  "This is the prophet Jesus, from Galilee!"  Seeing what is happening, the Pharisees lament:  "The world has gone after him." -Matthew 21:10, 11; John 12:17-19. 

As is his custom when visiting Jerusalem, Jesus, the Great Teacher, goes to the temple t0 teach. There the blind and the lame come to him, and he cures them. When the chief priests and the scribes see this they hear the boys in the temple crying out, "Save, we pray, the Son of David!"  They become angry.  "Do you hear what these are saying?  They protest.  "Yes, Jesus replies.  "Did you never read this,'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have furnished praise'?"  As Jesus continues teaching, he takes a good look at what is going on in the temple. -Matthew 21:15, 16; Mark 11:11. 

How different Jesus' approach is now from what it was six months earlier! He then came into Jerusalem for the Festival of the Tabernacle  "not openly but as in secret." (John 7:10) And he always took measures to get away safely when is life is threatened. Now he openly  enters into the city where orders have been issued  to seize him! It was also notJesus' custom to advertise himself as the Messiah. (Isaiah 42:2;Mark 1:40-44) He did not want noisy advertising or distorted reports about him passed from mouth to mouth. Now the crowds  are openly declaring him King and Savior-the Messiah-and he rebuffs the religious leaders' requests to silence them!  Why the change?   Because "the hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified," as Jesus announces the very next day. -John 12:23. 

Next time: Bold Action-Then Lifesaving Teachings

From the Watchtower magazine,  2000