Luke 19: 28 – 40 (NIV): After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' " Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They replied, "The Lord needs it." They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
This was Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We call the Sunday before Easter Palm Sunday because people laid down cloaks and palm fronds on the road in front of Jesus as he arrived. Jesus was celebrated as a conquering king riding into town after a major victory. This was the one time he was celebrated by a city as the king he rightfully was. The scene is ripe with symbolism. Luke says the people were praising God “for all the miracles they had seen.” Why didn't Jesus arrive on a powerful horse? Because everything he did was for a purpose and his arriving on a donkey's colt was to fulfill a prophecy and show that he was the Messiah. Zechariah 9:9 says, “See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation; gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
A king would ride into town on a donkey only in times of peace. Jesus was bringing peace – peace with God. He would provide that peace by laying down his life five days later. When Jesus returns, he will ride a white horse and he will not bring peace, but God's wrath (Revelation 19:11 – 16).
The Pharisees didn't believe Jesus was the Christ, so they didn't want the people worshiping him. Jesus said that if we don't worship him, “the stones will cry out.” Jesus was saying that he is God and because of that, he will be worshiped. It is our privilege to worship him, but if we do not, creation will.
I don't want some rock to have to cry out because I failed to worship Jesus. All of creation is here to worship and I want to do my part. Jesus said God is seeking true worshipers. A true worshiper acknowledges Jesus as the King and Messiah. A true worshiper worships Jesus as God incarnate. A true worshiper acknowledges that Jesus is the only way to the Father.
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