Triumphant Entry

by Hugh DeLong

As we come to the ending of Matthew’s telling of the good news about the Messiah – Jesus, we come to the paragraph labeled in most English Bibles as ‘The Triumphant Entry’. In some ways this has always seemed a misnomer, for he enters Jerusalem to end up crucified.

We back up and reread Matthew 1– 20 and observe all the opposition from the religious leaders. However, the common people heard Him gladly (Mark 12:37 KJV). This gives us the necessary background to understand why the leaders were dead set against Jesus – they were losing their position, power, and influence over the people. Their solution: kill him.
We must read to the end of this gospel (and the others, and all the sermons in Acts, and the teaching of the letters from the Apostles!) and see the triumph was through the Resurrection! Yes, the opposition killed him, but He has risen and is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He didn’t take the shortcut offered by Satan in the temptation (worship me and I will give it all to you), He took the faithful path – the path through the cross!

What then looked like success turned to failure through the crucifixion ends in total triumph!

Jesus is triumphant through the resurrection and ascension to glory

• Jesus was declared the Son of God with power "by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).
• Christ is raised and seated “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,” with “all things in subjection under His feet” (Ephesians 1:19–23).
• God highly exalted Him so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9–11).
• Jesus is at God’s right hand, with “angels and authorities and powers” subjected to Him (I Peter 3:21–22).

He has triumphed over Satan and the spiritual powers

• Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities and “made a public display of them, having triumphed over them” (Colossians 2:13–15).
• Through death, Jesus rendered powerless “him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,” and freed those enslaved by fear of death (Hebrews 2:14–15).
• “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8).

The question that remains:

Has he conquered your heart? Your allegiance? Your complete trust and hope?