Jesus was aware that his kingdom would appear with glory and triumph, not on his entry into Jerusalem, but on his second coming to the earth. He knew that his entry into Jerusalem would cause contempt, sufferings, and death. Nevertheless, he was so forward and willing to suffer and die for us that he was the foremost of the company on his way to the place of his crucifixion.
The city of Jericho lies on the deep Jordan River. It is about 1000 m. lower than Jerusalem, which lies behind the Mount of Olives, the mountain which salutes with its towers and twinkling lights from afar the pilgrims coming in the midst of the desert to visit the "City of Peace".
When Jesus arrived at the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, the Holy Spirit prompted him to fulfill the prophecy in (Zechariah 9:9), which mentions that the King of Glory is coming to the city of God not on a horse, or a camel, or on foot; but riding on a donkey. Jesus was so poor that he had no donkey. So he trusted that the Holy Spirit would provide a suitable donkey for him; and thus the prophecy had its accomplishment in order that everyone should realize that Jesus is the promise, just, triumphant, and meek Christ.
Christ, in his spiritual insight, saw the colt from afar. He sent two of his disciples and commanded them to loose the animal, providing them in advance with their answer to the owner that he might allow them to receive it. In this prophetic statement, Jesus revealed his truth, calling himself "the Lord". He was not only Master, King, and Christ; but also God himself. This name, which was like an electric shock in the minds of the messengers, gave them courage that they passed it on and confessed that the Lord himself had come to his people in Jesus of Nazareth, who is worthy of all acclamation and worship.
Jesus did not come as an arrogant great Lord, but was lowly and gentle. He summed up these meanings in his saying: "the Lord has need." Undoubtedly, the Lord has no need at all, for he had emptied himself, and became humble, when he became incarnate in our world, in human likeness. In his love, he became so poor that he had no money, property, or animals. Thus he wanted to show us that the divine glory is not splendor, money, and luxurious buildings; but love, holiness, and spiritual authority.
In his exciting announcement, Christ confessed that he was not willing to enter his capital just as an ordinary man, but he required from his nation submission, obedience, and worship in spite of his poverty and lowliness.
The two disciples immediately testified their complete submission to their Lord, for when they had come with the colt, they took off their garments, and placed them before the colt on which Christ rode, as a token of their subjection to the Lord of Lords, showing their preparedness to spread the road with their own bodies for the glory of the power of God. Then the followers knew the critical hour. They also participated in this unique, subjection token, committing themselves completely to Jesus the Lord. They came one after the other and put their clothes that the procession of their Lord might walk on them, until the procession arrived at the summit of the Mount of Olives, where the holy city came into their sights with its golden towers, shining domes, great wall, and wide yard where the Temple was, God’s dwelling in his creation.
As they saw this full and magnificent view of the city, the multitudes began to praise and utter trilling cries of joy for the entry of the King; and when they went down to the Kidron valley, which separates between the Mount of Olives and the holy city. Pilgrims raced from all directions, participating in and joining Jesus’ procession, singing psalms and hymns, praising God for all the miracles Jesus had wrought, counting those miracles loudly in manifestation of the glory of him who comes, and thanking God for his blessing and his favor.
Dear brother, do you participate in the procession of joy and praise? How many biblical miracles and verses have you learnt by heart, and are able to mention before your friends and arguers? How many miracles have you experienced personally in your life, when Jesus entered it, received it, changed you, filled you with his blessings, and practically became the Lord of your life? Do you praise God for the coming of his Son, or is your heart still silent, your mouth closed, and your mind paralyzed, in spite of the entry of the love of God into the world of hatred and death?
Then the Holy Spirit guided those who sang and praised God to begin with the hymn of reception designated for the entry of the king into his capital. They knew that Jesus came not only in his own name, but also in his heavenly Father’s name, and that all the power, goodness, and justice of the Holy Spirit dwelt in the Nazarene. The joy of heaven’s pleasure spread over the earth that was tried of wars, and the glory of God came back to the colonized capital.
Jesus did not object or stop this acclamation, which was as clear as the sun. He did not refuse his royal title in their acclamation, but entered his capital as Master and Lord. But when some of the Pharisees who accompanied this joyful procession heard these holy titles of Jesus, they became troubled, afraid, and angry; and thought of the colonial power which was prepared to attack and crush every notion of proclaiming a king over the multitudes. Thus the professors were angry with Jesus because he was agreeable to and was pleased with this crowning acclamation. They asked him severely to silence those who accompanied him, and reject these divine titles; but Christ answered them, and hit them with the irrefutable proof that if those harmless believers should not acclaim now, the stones of dead creatures would immediately cry out, for their Creator moved on them riding.