Sunday: Arrival in Jerusalem

The Commotion on the Road

“Your farm is just outside the city, correct?”

“Yes.”

“And you were there when this man arrived at the city?”

“Yes.”

“Please tell me: What did you see?”

Well, it was like a dream. One moment, the road was empty, quiet, and still. Then in the distance, voices began singing and shouting. They grew louder and closer, until you could almost feel the ground tremble as the crowd drew near.

Hosanna in the Highest

Then I noticed palm branches—palm branches waving in the air. And then I saw that many of the men, and even the women, were taking their cloaks off their backs and laying them down on the road in front of this one man. I realized all of this was about him.

At first, I thought this was just another prophet—another man claiming to be from God who would easily entice the feeble-minded with false teachings and lies. But then the words they were shouting came clear: “Hosanna! Hosanna!”

Matthew 21:9 (NASB)

The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!’

Never had I seen a false prophet worshiped in such a way. When that word touched my ears, my heart began to wonder: Could it be the Messiah? The one we have all been waiting for?

They called him King. They called him Savior. Yet he looked more like a peasant than a king—meek, meager, not mighty. I tried to get closer, but the crowd had grown. More men, more women, and even children came running from the city to join the throng.

Confrontation with the Pharisees

Then came the Pharisees—the men of the law, trying to live right, trying to do good, men of tradition, men who pursued righteousness. And they fumed with anger and hatred at the sight of this man. Never had I seen such animosity toward a self-proclaimed messenger from God. Usually they were so quick to dismiss them, but not this man. This man was different indeed.

It took the Pharisees quite a while to have their voices heard over the roar of the crowd. They were demanding that this man command the crowd to cease their worship. Do you know what he did? Do you know what he said?

He said, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Luke 19:40 (NASB)

But Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!’

And do you know what the Pharisees said? Nothing. They were left completely speechless.

The Unmistakable King

Meek and humble he rode in, but weak he was not. He had no fear of being imprisoned, beaten, or stoned.

So who was this man? I asked one of the women in the crowd who he was. She looked at me and said, “Why, that’s Jesus, the Messiah.” Her face was so genuine, so deeply in love with this man. It was clear: this man was her God, her Lord, her Savior.

It all happened in a moment. Then the man and his followers disappeared into the city, as if it had all been a dream.

The Question That Lingers

I returned to my home, never to see him again with my own eyes, only to hear what eventually became of him. And to this day, I am haunted by that event. Because I look back and wonder: Did I miss it? Did I miss my chance to truly usher in and embrace the Messiah?