Luke 19:29
And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
Jesus was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives as He approached Jerusalem for the Passover, and from there He sent two of His disciples ahead.
They were to bring an ass and its colt, a foal upon which no one had ever sat, and upon their word that the Lord had need of them the owners let them go, and the disciples spread their garments upon the colt and set Him upon it though He had always traveled on foot.
That sending began His public triumphal procession into Jerusalem as Messiah and promised King in the manner of an Israelite king, whose trophies were people He had delivered, healed, and raised.
For the first time He accepted public homage, while the disciples and the ever-growing multitude spread garments in His path, strewed and waved olive and palm branches as emblems of victory, and shouted hosannas and blessings to God for all His mighty works, in fulfillment of prophecy about the Messiah's royal arrival.
Many took this to mean He would take David's throne, assert royal power, drive out the Romans and restore Israel as an independent nation, and their hopes ended in bitter grief at His crucifixion until they revived at His resurrection.
The ride led to His solemn weeping from the crest of Olivet over the doomed city that rejected His mercy in coming to die that sinful man might not perish, seeing beyond Jerusalem to an impenitent world doomed to destruction.
Setting and Preparation
Jesus had come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, as He approached Jerusalem for the Passover. From that place He sent two of His disciples ahead toward the city to prepare for His entry as the promised King.
It was the first day of the week, and He resumed His journey to Jerusalem for the feast accompanied by multitudes who had flocked to Bethany to see Him and were eager to witness His entry. The season was beautiful, with rejoicing nature, green hills, leafy groves, trees in verdure, and fragrant blossoms. Many other people on their way to keep the feast continually joined them, and the crowd was enlarged and made especially large and enthusiastic by those who hoped to see Him after the raising of Lazarus.
Though the distance was short, He sent the two disciples a short distance ahead to bring an ass and its colt, the foal of an ass upon which no one had ever sat, that He might ride into Jerusalem. Their errand followed His precise directions, and the owners readily released the animals when told the Lord had need of them. From there the animals were brought at His command for Him to ride into the city, beginning the public scene of His entry.
He had always chosen to travel on foot, so His choice now to ride puzzled the disciples. They spread their garments on the colt that no one had ridden before and set Him upon it. Yet the act brightened their hearts with hope that He was about to enter the capital to proclaim Himself King of the Jews and assert His royal power and establish His kingdom.
Royal Entry and Significance
The sending of the two disciples begins His public triumphal procession into Jerusalem as Messiah and promised King. He enters in the manner of an Israelite king, riding the colt they bring. It is unlike the pageants of earthly conquerors, for its trophies are people He has delivered and healed. Those rescued from Satan, the blind, the dumb, the healed, widows and orphans, cleansed lepers, and people raised from the dead praise God and honor Him as King, with Lazarus guiding the animal that carries his Liberator.
For the first time He now accepts the public homage He had never before permitted. No sooner is He seated than the multitude hails Him as Messiah their King with a loud shout of triumph and hosannas. The people give Him the worship of happy hearts, spreading outer garments as a carpet in His path and strewing leafy branches of olive and palm. They cut and wave palm boughs, nature's emblem of victory, with no royal standards or outward pomp. The disciples loudly bless God by repeating the healings, the raisings of the dead, and all the mighty works they can remember.
The multitude continually increases with those hastening to join, and crowds come out from Jerusalem to meet and conduct Him, greeting Him with palm branches and sacred song. Their shouts of triumph and hosannas are echoed from hills and valleys. The display astonishes spectators who knew He had heretofore refused kingly honors and declared His kingdom was not of this world. Even the temple evening service is forsaken as the priests sound the trumpet to few responders, while the rulers say in alarm that the world has gone after Him.
The entry fulfills prophecy about the Messiah's royal arrival, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy. This praise has to sound because prophecy must be fulfilled. When priests and elders demand the multitude be stilled, He refuses, for prophecy has to be fulfilled even if the stones had to cry out.
Many take the homage as proof He will be acknowledged at Jerusalem as King of Israel. The disciples hope brightens that He is about to enter the capital and proclaim Himself King of the Jews and take David's throne with royal power. Many expect Him to drive out the Roman armies, deliver Israel from its oppressors, and restore it as an independent nation.
Those high royal hopes end a few days later in grief when He is crucified and buried, the Master they believed would reign stretched on the cruel cross above mocking Pharisees. It is a bitter disappointment with darkness of death closing about them, greater than the disappointment of later believers who waited for His coming. Yet their hopes revive when He rises and appears to them. The entry nevertheless fulfills prophecy and serves God's purpose, and He stays true to His promises with sweet consolation and rich reward for the true and faithful.
The ride leads to His weeping on the crest of Olivet over the doomed city. He weeps because His mercy and love are rejected. His coming to Jerusalem shows His mercy and love in dying for sinful man so that he might not perish in his sins. In that weeping He sees beyond the destruction of Jerusalem to an impenitent world doomed to destruction. The account is a solemn event that makes a solemn impression and is associated with people coming forward to renew their effort to follow Him, relying on His strength.