As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 NIV
Jesus’ earthly ministry was about three years long. We may assume that the Gospels tell a “balanced” chronological account, but the fact is that the first-person witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus devoted between 30-40% of their writing to the last week of Jesus’ life. Think of it this way. If Jesus lived exactly 33 years, that would be about 1,700 weeks. Why would one week command so much attention? Because in that single week, Jesus changed life and eternity for mankind. His teaching didn’t do it. His miracles didn’t do it. Everything that happened in His miraculous birth and life before this week was significant, but His sacrificial death and resurrection accomplished what nothing else could do.
Jesus knew His death would occur in Jerusalem and the time was near. He gathered Himself together and resolutely went to Jerusalem. On Palm Sunday, He entered Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, one that had never before been ridden, fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah in Zechariah 9:9. The people heard He was coming and were excited! Perhaps He truly WAS the long awaited One and would begin His takeover from this point. They waved palm branches and sang “Hosanna,” treating Him like He was a King. After the entry, He got away from the people, and it was evening. He was very careful. He had been making certain to stay away from opportunities for His enemies to capture Him before the right time. He went to the temple courts and looked around (Mark 11:11), and then spent the evening in Bethany.
On Palm Monday, Jesus the King did not take it easy. There’s no time or space here to share all He did, but most significantly, He returned to Jerusalem in the morning to increase and intensify His public messages. He taught in the temple, sharing parables with simple imagery about the Kingdom of God. The Jewish leaders thought He was blasphemous and were outraged. He walked through the temple courts again. He had seen the night before that though He had previously kicked out the buyers and sellers, the holy place of worship was again a center for buying and selling and taking advantage of the poor. He overturned tables, reminded everyone of whose house the Temple was, infuriating the vendors and religious leaders.
Then He and His disciples returned to Bethany to the home of His friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, the family who hosted them most of His ministry. On the way there He was hungry. A fig tree He would have eaten a fig from was fruitless and barren. He cursed it, not because He was angry, but for a lesson soon to come for His men. Palm Monday was a very intentional and purposeful day.
- Nothing about Jesus’ death was accidental, unexpected, or unwilling. Jesus fully understood and embraced His mission. He did not allow the anger and misunderstanding of others to deter Him. Thank Him for His willing choice.