You are currently viewing Jesus Triumphal Entry. Why did Jesus ride a donkey into Jerusalem?

Jesus Triumphal Entry. Why did Jesus ride a donkey into Jerusalem?

Many people were asking themselves, how was Jesus’ Triumphal Entry? After Christ entered Jerusalem with His disciples, the countdown to His Terrible Passion began immediately. Therefore, He left His disciples the mystery of the Eucharist, of the Divine Communion, so that through Him they and all believers throughout the ages, that is, the Church on earth and in heaven, might prosper in the Eternal Kingdom.

Jesus Triumphal Entry took place as follows: Christ, mounted on a donkey’s colt, rides humbly but triumphantly through the midst of the City. The crowd, enthusiastic about His miracles and preaching, welcomed Him with “Hosanna!” and laid down boughs of fir as He passed by (Matthew 21:15). They felt Him as the Messiah, the King, the Deliverer. Many of these, however, unfortunately, pushed by the priests, scribes, and Pharisees will cry out: Crucify Him, crucify Him, a typical turn of the immature, opportunistic, cowardly. This is continually repeated in history. The masses betray their leaders.

Christ, having begun to prepare His disciples, said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will give Him up to the condemnation of death!” (Mark 10:33) he goes to the Holy City, Jerusalem, to celebrate with his disciples the last Passover (on this occasion I point out that the expression Son of God and Son of Man often refer to the same person, Jesus Christ.

Read also: Is Canaan The Promised Land?

 

What is the significance of the triumphant entry of Jesus?

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is one of the most sumptuous feasts of Christians around the world. What is this feast? Why did Jesus Christ enter Jerusalem on a day like this? Was it a simple entry, or did it bring something much more important? Is it important? If so, why? We will look at all these questions in today’s article.

Jesus had to enter Jerusalem triumphantly on a day like today, not only to fulfill the Scriptures but also to make possible his death afterward. He is the grain that fell to earth and had to die. And we all know that just a few days later, less than a week, the same people who met Him so gloriously in Jerusalem took and beat the targets in His hands.

After Christ entered Jerusalem with His disciples, the countdown to His Terrible Passion began immediately. Therefore, He left His disciples the mystery of the Eucharist, of the Divine Communion, so that through Him they and all believers throughout the ages, that is, the Church on earth and in heaven, might prosper in the Eternal Kingdom.

Read also: Saint Thomas The Apostle: A Faithful Christian Disciple.

 

Why Did Jesus Ride a Donkey into Jerusalem?

“When Jesus had said these things, he went on ahead, ascending to Jerusalem. And when he drew nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, to the mountain called ‘Olivet,’ he sent two disciples, saying: “Go into the village before you. When you enter it, you will find a donkey tied up, on which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it in. If anyone asks you: “Why are you untying it?” tell him: “The Lord needs him.” Those sent went and found everything just as Jesus had told them.

Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfill the prophecies about the King of the Jews who would come riding on a donkey. Then they threw their clothes over the donkey and placed Jesus on horseback. As he went along, the people spread their clothes on the road.

When he came near the city and saw it, Jesus wept over it. He said, “If only you had known the things that could bring you peace this day! But now they are hidden from your eyes! The days will come when your enemies set up barricades against you, surround you, and besiege you from all sides! They will crush you to the ground, you and your children in your midst, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you because you have not known the time of your search! (Jesus spoke to them about the siege that took place 30 years after His crucifixion, during the reign of Nero.)

Read also: The Three Marys | The Pious Women Who Witnessed The Death of Jesus

 

What is the most famous tradition of Palm Sunday?

Palm Sunday is celebrated a week before Easter. An old legend tells us that the Mother of God, wishing to see her son, who had just been crucified, could not continue her journey because great water came her way. She prayed to all the weeds to let the water pass, but only the willow helped her. 

The best-known tradition of Palm Sunday is that of willow branches, which the faithful take to church in the morning to be consecrated by the priest. After the service, each participant will take willow branches home and keep them clean, usually next to an icon. This willow is believed to have unspeakable powers and, in times of trouble or sickness, will help whoever uses it.

Palm Sunday, or the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, is the enormous feast of Lent and recalls the triumphal entry of the Saviour into the city of Jerusalem the day after He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Key Verse related to Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem

When Jesus had finished saying all this, he went on toward Jerusalem. He sent two of his disciples ahead as he was getting near Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives.”

Luke 19:28-40 (NIV)

Jesus Triumphal Entry

What is the significance of the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday?

Palm Sunday is the most critical feast that heralds Easter and marks the beginning of a week of the Passion—also called Holy Week – during which church services commemorate Christ’s last days on earth each evening. The Last Days – the faithful spend Christ on the Way of the Cross before His Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The Lord’s entry into Jerusalem is His way to the Sacred Passion. He will receive death so that through His Resurrection, He may arrive with His assumed human nature in the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, in the Kingdom of Heaven. He does not return to earthly Jerusalem except to show Himself a few times to the disciples to strengthen them in the faith that He has risen from the dead and that death no longer has dominion over Him.

On Saturday before Easter, Christ stops in Bethany, and Mary, Lazarus’ sister, anoints his feet with myrrh. This anointing was done for the
The Lord’s burial. We mention that this anointing has become, in the faith of the Church, a foreshadowing of the holy and great blessing, which is consecrated 10-15 years after the synod of an autocephalous Church. With the sacred myrrh, the heavenly table is anointed at the transaction of the church. The next day, the Saviour leaves Bethany for Jerusalem.

Read also: How many days did Jesus stay on Earth after Resurrection?

 

Why did Jesus ride in on a donkey?

The prophets foretold the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem long before it happened. It follows that it is part of God’s plan of salvation.

The Lord rides into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt, humbled, to show the crowds that He is not a person who has come to rule this world. At the same time, he reveals through this gesture that we can only meet the Lord in humility.

Jesus Triumphal Entry is the way to willing death. Even though His death was decided by the rulers of the charismatic and Pharisees, St. John the Evangelist speaks of it as a willing sacrifice. Christ, though he had the power to face those who wanted his death, for he was also God, did not flee from death. On the contrary, he receives it to overcome it from within.

Read also: Did Jesus resurrect? Proof of Jesus’ Resurrection

 

When did Jesus enter Jerusalem?

We know from the Holy Scripture that the Saviour wept when He saw that Lazarus was dead and laid in the tomb. His plan shows us that death is not a natural state, that man was not brought into existence to die but to live forever. In the Gospels, it is mentioned twice that Christ wept.

According to the Bible, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem occurred in the year 0033 AD, on Palm Sunday. The Saviour’s journey to Jerusalem and His sufferings is actualized at each Mass by the exit with the Gifts. To be transformed into the Body and Blood of the Lord. During the Great Vodou, the Sacred Gifts of bread and wine are taken from the proscomidiar. And brought to the Holy Table, which symbolizes the Lord’s tomb.

The feast of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is Palm Sunday. It is an event that takes place a week before His Passion. From this day begins Passion Week, and the churches celebrate the Last Supper every evening.

What does Jesus look like at the entrance to Jerusalem?

He did not come to make Himself an earthly emperor or to set the Israelite people above all other people. Although that was precisely what the Jews expected, Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. And His glory could have nothing in common with the parade-like brilliance of earthly emperors.

In Jerusalem, Christ shows Himself humble and meekly, without horses, chariots, or any outward glitter. But all earthly glory is nothing and vanishes like smoke. There is, however, another glory, immeasurably higher: the glory of courageous humility. Gentleness, of virtue, because these fantastic spiritual qualities are immeasurably higher than all outward attributes of power and dominion.

The kingdom of Christ is not of this world, and His glory must have been of another kind – above the earth, divine. And He acquired this glory by His humble entry into Jerusalem. He sat on an ass, holding His head not high. But bowed low and flushed His holy cheeks with rivers of tears.

Read also: New Jerusalem on Earth. What kind of work will we do in Heaven?

 

Primary Takeaways

  • The feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem is a feast of joy because it reveals Christ’s victory. The death of Lazarus foreshadows His victory over His own dead body.
  • Christ had always shunned honors, commanding the devils He cast out not to make it known that He was the Son of God. And the healed not to tell of the miracle of their healing.
  • But now the time had come for Him to reveal His Messiahship to the people. And His entry into Jerusalem was intended to do just that: to proclaim to all that the Messiah had come.

Read also: Jesus Agony in the Garden. Was Jesus scared to die?

 

Conclusions

Jesus had been to Jerusalem throughout His earthly life, but His presence in the city of David went unnoticed each time. But when he enters Jerusalem for the last time, this even becomes a popular celebration. But why were the people of Jerusalem so curious to see Jesus? Why were they throwing branches of fir and clothes in his path and shouting? “Hosanna, Hosanna, well is he that cometh in the name of the Lord?”

The Lord knew what the people would have to endure as they were to deny Him. He knew that the Roman hostiles would come and impress Jerusalem. They would subject it to the unspeakable horrors of the siege, that the city would be destroyed. Not one stone would be left of it, and t the temple would suffer the same fate. Jerusalem knew that it served her salvation.

If you enjoyed our article, check out our Quizzes Section. Have a good day!