NO MORE SECRETS

He knew he wasn’t supposed to tell me what it was, so he said to me, “It’s not a watch.” The days leading up to Palm Sunday had the same kind of feel. Jesus healed many and cast out demons during the first half of His ministry but followed up with instructions to not tell anyone. Jesus was keeping His identity a secret. That began to change when Jesus did large public displays like feeding the 5,000 or raising Lazarus from the dead which He did right before entering Jerusalem. 

There would be no more secrecy for Jesus. Jesus was on an inevitable collision course with Rome and the religious leaders. Jerusalem had swelled in size during Passover to 75,000 to 100,000 people. Many people had heard that Jesus was coming and ran out to greet Him. Jesus’ entourage included many whom Jesus had healed and delivered from spirits. The most notable person accompanying Jesus was Lazarus. Can you imagine the crowds that greeted Jesus? They must have been huge, thousands if not ten thousand. 

Jesus couldn’t have been more conspicuous. All of Jerusalem was watching. Rome was concerned that the crowds would be roused into rebellious fervor and take arms against the Roman legions. Despite proclaiming Jesus ‘the son of David’ – Israel’s designation for a rightful king – the crowd was hoping for something other than war – healing and forgiveness. The religious leaders wanted to bring Jesus before the Sanhedrin to deal with Jesus, but the crowds were too big. The leaders knew the people would turn against them if they laid hands on Jesus, so they waited for a quieter time when Jesus was alone. They would only act under the cover of darkness.

There were many reasons for Rome and the Sanhedrin to go after Jesus, but it would not be today. They would have to wait. The only voices heard that day were the shouts of excitement and acclamation of thousands who looked forward to Jesus’ coming. The secret of Jesus was out, and they could not contain their enthusiasm and joy. Holy week started well.

 Matthew 21:1-11

“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”  

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Blessings,

Jonathan