And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
Jesus on the first day of the week resumed His journey from Bethany to Jerusalem to keep the Passover just before His betrayal and death, deliberately finding a young colt on which no man had ever sat and sitting upon it. In doing so He fulfilled what was written, especially Zechariah's prophecy that Zion's King would come humbly riding on an ass and its colt. He enters Jerusalem as the promised King and Messiah, heir to David's throne, in the manner of a royal entry on the kind of animal ridden by Israel's kings, yet unlike the pageants of earthly conquerors and true to the life of humiliation He had accepted. On this occasion He accepted homage He had never before permitted and allowed the procession to publicly honor Him as Messiah and King, which the disciples and crowd took as a sign that He would proclaim Himself king, take David's throne, free Israel from Rome and establish an earthly kingdom. That earthly expectation was mistaken, for His path led to the cross; He accepted the homage to draw public attention to Himself as the world's Redeemer and to the sacrifice He was soon to make, so that after His death searching the prophecies would reveal Him as Messiah.
Entry Setting and Manner
John 12:14 belongs to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, when Jesus resumed His journey from Bethany to Jerusalem to keep the Passover. It was just before His betrayal and death, in the beautiful season when many had come to the feast. Multitudes who had flocked to Bethany to see Him accompanied Him, and other Passover pilgrims continually joined them on the way. He usually traveled on foot, but on this occasion He sent two of His disciples to bring a colt the foal of an ass for Him to ride into the city.
The way lay amid rejoicing nature with trees clothed in verdure and fragrant blossoms. There was intense public excitement, for His fame had spread over all the land because He had raised Lazarus from the dead. Crowds were anxious to see and hear Him as a prophet, asking who He was, where He came from, whether Lazarus would accompany Him to Jerusalem, and whether He would be crowned king at the feast. The raising of Lazarus had drawn an enthusiastic multitude eager to see Jesus. The priests and rulers saw they were losing their hold on the minds of the people, and their rage increased as they waited for Him to come to gratify their revenge and remove Him forever, yet they grew excited and restless fearing He might not come because He had read their purposes, divined their thoughts, exposed their hidden motives, and baffled their murderous designs.
For the ride Jesus deliberately selected a young ass, a colt the foal of an ass on which no man had ever sat. Though He owned all things, He depended on a stranger's kindness for the animal. His precise directions for obtaining it through two disciples showed His divine knowledge. The disciples took this unusual act as connected with hope of kingship.
The disciples spread their garments on the colt and placed Jesus upon Him. Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead, guided the beast, and those around Him were living witnesses to His works of mercy, those He had healed or delivered praising Him. There was no outward pomp or costly gifts or royal standards, no escort by heavenly angels or heralding by the trumps of God, but the people gave Him the worship of happy hearts. They spread outer garments as a carpet in His path, strewed olive and palm branches in the way, and waved palm boughs aloft as nature's emblem of victory, with loud acclamations and hosannas echoed from hills and valleys. The multitude continually grew with Passover pilgrims, and crowds from Jerusalem came to meet and conduct Him to the city with palm waving and sacred song, raising their hands in joy. Astonished spectators asked who He was and what the commotion meant, wondering at the change in One who had refused kingly honors and declared His kingdom was not of this world. He is seen wearing a blue robe over a white tunic, riding a gray donkey and young donkey through an arched city gate between tall stone walls and fortified towers, surrounded by men, women, and children, with palm trees above the buildings, flowering plants in the foreground, and hazy mountains in the distance.
Prophecy of Humble King
The finding and riding of the young ass happened as it was written, in fulfillment of prophecy, especially Zechariah's foretelling that Israel's King, Zion's King, would come humbly riding on an ass and its colt. The colt had never been ridden, and the public procession that honored Him on it as Messiah and King was His royal entry, faintly prefiguring His future coming as Zion's King. The disciples and crowd took the ride as a signal that He would proclaim Himself king and exercise royal power and establish an earthly kingdom, though that expectation went beyond what the sign itself meant and was mistaken.
The verse presents the coming of the King, for Jesus enters Jerusalem as the promised King and Messiah, heir to David's throne, coming to His kingdom in the manner of a royal entry. The animal was the kind ridden by Israel's kings, and the Messiah had been foretold to come to His kingdom in this way, following their custom, with a humble royal entry on a colt that no one had ridden. Though He owned all things He depended on a stranger's kindness for the animal, and His precise directions for obtaining it through two disciples showed His divine knowledge. As He rode the crowd acclaimed Him as Messiah and King, and His disciples took His acceptance of their homage as a sign that He would be acknowledged at Jerusalem as Israel's King, would claim an earthly throne, take David's throne, and free Israel from Roman rule.
His triumphal procession was unlike the pageants of earthly conquerors, for He deliberately selected a humble beast, a young colt on which no man had ever sat. The disciples spread their garments on the colt and placed Him upon it, with Lazarus raised from the dead guiding the beast, while around Him were living witnesses to His works of mercy, those He had healed or delivered praising Him, fulfilling the prophecy of the lowly King entering Jerusalem. The moment He was seated a loud shout of triumph hailed Him as Messiah and King, homage He had never before permitted, which the disciples took as proof He would be acknowledged at Jerusalem as King of Israel. Without outward pomp or costly gifts or royal standards or escort by heavenly angels and heralding by the trumps of God, the people gave Him the worship of happy hearts, spreading outer garments as a carpet in His path, strewing olive and palm branches in the way, and waving palm boughs aloft as nature's emblem of victory with loud acclamations and hosannas echoed from hills and valleys. The multitude continually grew with Passover pilgrims and crowds from Jerusalem coming to meet and conduct Him to the city with palm waving and sacred song, while astonished spectators asked who He was and what the commotion meant, wondering at the change in One who had refused kingly honors and declared His kingdom was not of this world. Though this startling ride was the one triumphal scene of His earthly life, calculated to be the talk of every tongue and to bring Him before every mind so that after His crucifixion it would be connected with His trial and death and searching the prophecies would reveal Him as Messiah and multiply converts in all lands, He remained true to the life of humiliation He had accepted, bearing the burden of humanity till His life was given for the life of the world.
Hopes and Redemptive Purpose
On this occasion Jesus accepted homage He had never before permitted and allowed the procession to publicly honor Him as Messiah and King. The moment He was seated on the colt a loud shout of triumph hailed Him. By so receiving the crowd's worship He let the ride stand openly as His royal entry.
The disciples and the crowd took the ride and His acceptance of homage as a sign that He would be acknowledged at Jerusalem as King of Israel. They understood it to mean that He would proclaim Himself king and exercise royal power. They expected Him to take David's throne, free Israel from Roman rule, and establish an earthly kingdom. The crowds hailed Him as the promised Messiah coming to reign in Jerusalem.
That earthly expectation went beyond what the sign itself meant. The disciples took the event to mean He was about to set up an earthly kingdom, but their expectation was mistaken. They and the people expected Him to reign as king on David's throne, yet His path led to the cross. Their hopes were therefore disappointed.
He accepted the homage to draw public attention to Himself as the world's Redeemer and to the sacrifice He was soon to make. The startling ride was calculated to be the talk of every tongue and to bring Him before every mind. After His crucifixion it would be connected with His trial and death, and searching the prophecies would reveal Him as indeed the Messiah. Converts to faith in Him would thus be multiplied in all lands. His royal entry also faintly prefigured His future coming as Zion's King.
Jesus on the first day of the week resumed His journey from Bethany to Jerusalem to keep the Passover just before His betrayal and death, deliberately finding a young colt on which no man had ever sat and sitting upon it. In doing so He fulfilled what was written, especially Zechariah's prophecy that Zion's King would come humbly riding on an ass and its colt. He enters Jerusalem as the promised King and Messiah, heir to David's throne, in the manner of a royal entry on the kind of animal ridden by Israel's kings, yet unlike the pageants of earthly conquerors and true to the life of humiliation He had accepted. On this occasion He accepted homage He had never before permitted and allowed the procession to publicly honor Him as Messiah and King, which the disciples and crowd took as a sign that He would proclaim Himself king, take David's throne, free Israel from Rome and establish an earthly kingdom. That earthly expectation was mistaken, for His path led to the cross; He accepted the homage to draw public attention to Himself as the world's Redeemer and to the sacrifice He was soon to make, so that after His death searching the prophecies would reveal Him as Messiah.
Entry Setting and Manner
John 12:14 belongs to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, when Jesus resumed His journey from Bethany to Jerusalem to keep the Passover. It was just before His betrayal and death, in the beautiful season when many had come to the feast. Multitudes who had flocked to Bethany to see Him accompanied Him, and other Passover pilgrims continually joined them on the way. He usually traveled on foot, but on this occasion He sent two of His disciples to bring a colt the foal of an ass for Him to ride into the city.
The way lay amid rejoicing nature with trees clothed in verdure and fragrant blossoms. There was intense public excitement, for His fame had spread over all the land because He had raised Lazarus from the dead. Crowds were anxious to see and hear Him as a prophet, asking who He was, where He came from, whether Lazarus would accompany Him to Jerusalem, and whether He would be crowned king at the feast. The raising of Lazarus had drawn an enthusiastic multitude eager to see Jesus. The priests and rulers saw they were losing their hold on the minds of the people, and their rage increased as they waited for Him to come to gratify their revenge and remove Him forever, yet they grew excited and restless fearing He might not come because He had read their purposes, divined their thoughts, exposed their hidden motives, and baffled their murderous designs.
For the ride Jesus deliberately selected a young ass, a colt the foal of an ass on which no man had ever sat. Though He owned all things, He depended on a stranger's kindness for the animal. His precise directions for obtaining it through two disciples showed His divine knowledge. The disciples took this unusual act as connected with hope of kingship.
The disciples spread their garments on the colt and placed Jesus upon Him. Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead, guided the beast, and those around Him were living witnesses to His works of mercy, those He had healed or delivered praising Him. There was no outward pomp or costly gifts or royal standards, no escort by heavenly angels or heralding by the trumps of God, but the people gave Him the worship of happy hearts. They spread outer garments as a carpet in His path, strewed olive and palm branches in the way, and waved palm boughs aloft as nature's emblem of victory, with loud acclamations and hosannas echoed from hills and valleys. The multitude continually grew with Passover pilgrims, and crowds from Jerusalem came to meet and conduct Him to the city with palm waving and sacred song, raising their hands in joy. Astonished spectators asked who He was and what the commotion meant, wondering at the change in One who had refused kingly honors and declared His kingdom was not of this world. He is seen wearing a blue robe over a white tunic, riding a gray donkey and young donkey through an arched city gate between tall stone walls and fortified towers, surrounded by men, women, and children, with palm trees above the buildings, flowering plants in the foreground, and hazy mountains in the distance.
Prophecy of Humble King
The finding and riding of the young ass happened as it was written, in fulfillment of prophecy, especially Zechariah's foretelling that Israel's King, Zion's King, would come humbly riding on an ass and its colt. The colt had never been ridden, and the public procession that honored Him on it as Messiah and King was His royal entry, faintly prefiguring His future coming as Zion's King. The disciples and crowd took the ride as a signal that He would proclaim Himself king and exercise royal power and establish an earthly kingdom, though that expectation went beyond what the sign itself meant and was mistaken.
The verse presents the coming of the King, for Jesus enters Jerusalem as the promised King and Messiah, heir to David's throne, coming to His kingdom in the manner of a royal entry. The animal was the kind ridden by Israel's kings, and the Messiah had been foretold to come to His kingdom in this way, following their custom, with a humble royal entry on a colt that no one had ridden. Though He owned all things He depended on a stranger's kindness for the animal, and His precise directions for obtaining it through two disciples showed His divine knowledge. As He rode the crowd acclaimed Him as Messiah and King, and His disciples took His acceptance of their homage as a sign that He would be acknowledged at Jerusalem as Israel's King, would claim an earthly throne, take David's throne, and free Israel from Roman rule.
His triumphal procession was unlike the pageants of earthly conquerors, for He deliberately selected a humble beast, a young colt on which no man had ever sat. The disciples spread their garments on the colt and placed Him upon it, with Lazarus raised from the dead guiding the beast, while around Him were living witnesses to His works of mercy, those He had healed or delivered praising Him, fulfilling the prophecy of the lowly King entering Jerusalem. The moment He was seated a loud shout of triumph hailed Him as Messiah and King, homage He had never before permitted, which the disciples took as proof He would be acknowledged at Jerusalem as King of Israel. Without outward pomp or costly gifts or royal standards or escort by heavenly angels and heralding by the trumps of God, the people gave Him the worship of happy hearts, spreading outer garments as a carpet in His path, strewing olive and palm branches in the way, and waving palm boughs aloft as nature's emblem of victory with loud acclamations and hosannas echoed from hills and valleys. The multitude continually grew with Passover pilgrims and crowds from Jerusalem coming to meet and conduct Him to the city with palm waving and sacred song, while astonished spectators asked who He was and what the commotion meant, wondering at the change in One who had refused kingly honors and declared His kingdom was not of this world. Though this startling ride was the one triumphal scene of His earthly life, calculated to be the talk of every tongue and to bring Him before every mind so that after His crucifixion it would be connected with His trial and death and searching the prophecies would reveal Him as Messiah and multiply converts in all lands, He remained true to the life of humiliation He had accepted, bearing the burden of humanity till His life was given for the life of the world.
Hopes and Redemptive Purpose
On this occasion Jesus accepted homage He had never before permitted and allowed the procession to publicly honor Him as Messiah and King. The moment He was seated on the colt a loud shout of triumph hailed Him. By so receiving the crowd's worship He let the ride stand openly as His royal entry.
The disciples and the crowd took the ride and His acceptance of homage as a sign that He would be acknowledged at Jerusalem as King of Israel. They understood it to mean that He would proclaim Himself king and exercise royal power. They expected Him to take David's throne, free Israel from Roman rule, and establish an earthly kingdom. The crowds hailed Him as the promised Messiah coming to reign in Jerusalem.
That earthly expectation went beyond what the sign itself meant. The disciples took the event to mean He was about to set up an earthly kingdom, but their expectation was mistaken. They and the people expected Him to reign as king on David's throne, yet His path led to the cross. Their hopes were therefore disappointed.
He accepted the homage to draw public attention to Himself as the world's Redeemer and to the sacrifice He was soon to make. The startling ride was calculated to be the talk of every tongue and to bring Him before every mind. After His crucifixion it would be connected with His trial and death, and searching the prophecies would reveal Him as indeed the Messiah. Converts to faith in Him would thus be multiplied in all lands. His royal entry also faintly prefigured His future coming as Zion's King.