Knowing The Word in Luke 19:28-40, The Triumphal Entry

Bethany is a village two miles from Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives that Jesus will make his home base during Holy Week with his good friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Jesus asks for a colt to ride on for his entry into Jerusalem, one that has never been ridden, unspoiled for this sacred purpose. He does not mount it, but the disciples take the initiative and place him on it. People make a triumphal carpet on the ground with garments and palm branches. Luke, however, is the only gospel writer to omit the spreading of palm branches. Zechariah’s prophecy (9:9) sees the Messiah as the Prince of peace, riding not on a warhorse but on a humble donkey. The multitude with Jesus quotes Psalm 118:26 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” This section of the Psalms is known as the psalms of ascent, the ascent being the road up from Jericho to Jerusalem that rises 3300 feet.

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Prayer: I know what must be done. Only now am I beginning to be a disciple. May nothing of powers visible or invisible prevent me, that I may attain unto Jesus Christ. Come fire and cross and grapplings with wild bests, the rending of my bones and body, come all the torments of the wicked one upon me. Only let it be mine to attain unto Jesus Christ.

Ignatius of Antioch, c. 35-107