WELCOME O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:28-40 (NIV)

The story begins with Jesus telling the disciples to obtain an animal that had yet to be yoked.

In the Old Testament an unyoked animal had sacrificial associations.

The L ORD said to Moses and Aaron: “This is a requirement of the law that the L ORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence... While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines...

“A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. Numbers 19:1-3,5,9 (NIV)

The story begins with Jesus telling the disciples to obtain an animal that had yet to be yoked. In the Old Testament an unyoked animal had sacrificial associations. Also, an unyoked animal was considered pure enough to use for divine purposes.

When the ark of the L ORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the L ORD ? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”... “Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

Take the ark of the L ORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way. I Samuel 6:1-2, 7-8 (NIV) I Samuel 6:1-2, 7-8 (NIV)

The story begins with Jesus telling the disciples to obtain an animal that had yet to be yoked. In the Old Testament an unyoked animal had sacrificial associations. Also, an unyoked animal was considered pure enough to use for divine purposes. Finally, an unyoked animal had messianic implications.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)

The story begins with Jesus telling the disciples to obtain an animal that had yet to be yoked. By riding a previously unyoked animal Jesus is probably taking all of these associations upon himself.

On the surface, this appears to be a wonderful day.

However, these events are happening in Jerusalem.

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. Luke 9:43b-45 (NIV)

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village. Luke 9:51-56 (NIV) Luke 9:51-56 (NIV)

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” Luke 18:31-33 (NIV)

Jesus had warned repeatedly that when he arrived in Jerusalem, he would die.

So, why the rejoicing?

Jesus had warned repeatedly that when he arrived in Jerusalem, he would die. So, why the rejoicing? The disciples still did not get it.

Jesus had warned repeatedly that when he arrived in Jerusalem, he would die. So, why the rejoicing? The disciples still did not get it. Jesus states that if the disciples did not praise him the very stones would cry out.

Jesus had a different attitude toward persecution.

In his flesh he wanted to avoid it.

Jesus had a different attitude toward persecution. In his flesh he wanted to avoid it. Yet throughout the scripture, the kingdom had come to those who had patiently endured suffering.

Jesus had a different attitude toward persecution. In his flesh he wanted to avoid it. Yet throughout the scripture, the kingdom had come to those who had patiently endured suffering. The scriptures speak frequently of a great reversal that is coming.

All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 (NIV) 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 (NIV)

Jesus had a different attitude toward persecution. In his flesh he wanted to avoid it. Yet throughout the scripture, the kingdom had come to those who had patiently endured suffering. The scriptures speak frequently of a great reversal that is coming. This reversal is a fact, and can be celebrated even when things appear dark.