John 2:23-24
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[a] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.
2 Kings 9:12-13
12 …. Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’”
13 They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Psalm 118:26-27
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.[a]
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up[b] to the horns of the altar.
Zechariah 9:9
[ The Coming of Zion’s King ] Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 21:14
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.
"King me!" That's an expression used in the game of checkers when you have maneuvered one of your checkers through your opponents defense all the way to the other side of the board. When this happens, your opponent 'crowns' your checker by placing another of your checkers on top of the checker being 'King'ed' or promoted. Once crowned, this checker becomes a 'super checker', able to travel the distance of the board in a single move. A checker so 'crowned' puts the player at great advantage. A 'paradigm shift' takes place. The odds shift heavily in favor of the crowned competitor.
Jesus has traveled to Jerusalem before. Why is this trip different? For a moment, let's put ourselves in that present day’s environment, with no fore knowledge of the coming crucifixion, just for a moment. If you are one of Jesus' inner circle, or if you are just one of His followers, you know that the anticipation has been building for sometime now. Jesus is no stranger to the 'masses'. His preaching and His miracles have made Him a household name (John 2:23-24, John 5:1). John 2 tells us that many saw his miracles at Jerusalem three years earlier at Passover and believed on Him. From that earlier visit until today, Jesus had healed hundreds, fed thousands, ministered to whole regions. Make no mistake, He was very well known through out Judea. Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem… for Passover! What we may have missed was that thousands were converging on Jerusalem at this time, many of those thousands had not only heard of Jesus, but had long ago believed on Him… and they had been waiting… hoping.. praying that this young miracle worker would take hold of the mantle of ‘Messiah’ and make the nation of Israel great again. “Hosanna!”, they shouted. “It is time! Save us”, they demanded. Jesus, Himself, seems to be signaling that now is the time. He’s riding in on a colt, thus fulfilling the righteousness of scripture. By His actions, He demonstrates a willingness to finally.. finally accept His ‘Calling”. To finally step into His God appointed, anointed position as King of Israel.
Something magnificent is about to happen. Can’t you feel it? There’s a ‘certain sound’ from the heavens. It didn’t stop when the palm leaves stopped being waved. No it just grew and grew. Anticipation. Expectation. Something really big is about to take place. When faith is ignited by expectation, miracles break out. A woman with an issue grabbed His hem and was healed. A blind man cried out and was made to see. A man with a withered hand reached out .. and was made whole. Faith in action puts Heaven in motion. And now the multitudes are coalescing… around Jesus. The praise and excitement and anticipation has created a ‘presence’ that is tangible. The multitude feels it. Something is in the air.
Then, finally, the parade subsides, but the results are in place. ‘King’ Jesus has been ‘anointed’ for this most Holy event. He’s been ‘King’ed”. And now he makes His way to the Temple. But wait! Where is the expectation? The anticipation? His arrival at the Temple should have been heralded with the sound of the trumpet by the priests, the scribes, the religious hierarchy. It should not only have been a ‘Triumphal Entry’ into Jerusalem, but a triumphal arrival at the Temple… as King. But alas, it was not to be. That would have been a different plan. Not the Father’s plan. No, the Temple was quiet. Just some guards and the Levites on duty who were in charge of final preparations for this most Holy week. No one there was looking for a King, so Jesus just turned around and left.
No worries. Jesus didn’t come to the Temple to be received as King. His arrival at the Temple judged it and the religious system that it had come to represent. Jesus turned around and left. This wouldn’t be His last time at the Temple this week and yes, He would assume His place of authority at the Temple, if only for a few brief moments (Matt.21:14). Then He would turn His attention to His real purpose for being in Jerusalem, to be… the Passover Lamb and He would turn His attention to His planned and eventual destination…. Golgotha… and the cross. His vision was larger than a Temple and a nation. His vision was for all of mankind, you and I included. The multitude that met Him that day in Jerusalem couldn’t imagine what would transpire over the next several days and yet they were an integral part of the process. In any other setting, the sacrificing of the Passover lamb would have inspired … Worship. However, on this blessed occasion, inspired, expectant Worship heralded the arrival of … the Lamb of God. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
.wb
Hebrews 12:2
…. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 2:24
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Psalm 118:22-23
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
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