04-13-2025 The Colt, the Crowd, and the Children

Text: Matthew 21:1-16

                   Today is the day we call Palm Sunday.  It’s the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a colt and was greeted by the massive crowds who has gathered for the Feasts of the Passover, the Unleavened Bread and the First Fruits.  They praised and cheered Him as He entered the city, shouting ‘Hosanna to the Highest’ and calling Him ‘the Son of David.’  Our text is from Matthew 21:1-16 where Matthew writes: “ (1) And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two Disciples [tradition says it was Peter and John], (2) Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway [meaning immediately] you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her:  Loose them and bring them unto Me.  (3) If any man say ought unto you, you shall say ‘The Lord has need of them, and straightaway he will send them. (4) All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,   (5) Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon an ass and a colt, the foal of an ass [found in Zecheriah 9:9].  (6) And the Disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.  (7) And they brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes [this served as a sort of saddle] and set Him thereon.  (8) And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way.  (9) And the multitudes that went before, and that followed cried saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David:  Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest [He was recognized by the people as the Messiah but not by the religious leaders of Israel].’  (10) And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’  (11) And the multitude said,’ this is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.’  (12) And Jesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out all them who sold and bought in the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them who sold doves.  (13) And said unto them, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.  (14) And the blind and the lame came to Him in the Temple; and He healed them.  (15) And when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the Temple, and saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David;’ they were sore displeased.  (16) And said unto Him, do You hear what these say?  And Jesus said unto them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the Mouth of babes and sucklings You have perfected praise?”

                   We know the story but let’s see what else we can learn today.  Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem marked the beginning of the end of Him ministry here on earth.  But it also was a time of the new beginning.  His trial and crucifixion would occur followed three days later by His resurrection, and soon after that, the birth of the Christian Church at the Pentecost.  Thousands gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate and worship God. for the Passover.  All these people participated, witnessed, or at least heard of the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that day.  He would enter on a colt brought by the disciples, He was praised with garments and palm branches, and it was the children who turned out to be wiser than them all.

                   We see the colt covered in verses 2-7 of our text.  Jesus gave His disciples a strange instruction to go get a colt.  If they were met by any resistance, they were to tell the owner that the Lord needs him.  These were notoriously stubborn animals.  Just as the stubborn will of the colt submitted to Jesus, we bring to Him our own stubborn and unbroken will to submit to Him in order that we may be changed.  We then witness to others so that they may decide to do the same.  Jesus rode the colt, which was a symbol of the coming kingdom of Christ that will be made up of those who have submitted to His will by accepting them into their lives.  When that kingdom is established, He will ride again as we are told in Revelation 19:11-16.  The other colt brought by the Disciples was its mother following along behind and also prepared for a rider, which was a symbol of Israel who had rejected Jesus.

                   Next we are told about the crowd in verses 8-11.  They spread their garments and in some cases palm fronds and branches probably from olive trees, for Him to ride over.  That’s where “Palm Sunday” comes from.  They praised him saying ‘Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest.’  Hosanna is a term translated as “Here is one who will save us” or “God will help us now.”  They were using it to praise and appeal to Jesus Christ.  Oh, but how fickle that crowd was.  One day they praised and blessed Him yet very soon those praises turned to rejection and calls for Him to be crucified. 

                   Now let’s look at the children in verses 12-16.  Once in the city, Jesus went into the temple and turned it upside down .  It was the second time Jesus had done this.  The first is told to us in John 2:13 which was at the beginning of His ministry.  Now, for the last time He did it to remove the money changers who would exchange currency and merchants who were selling among other things, animals to be used in sacrifices for the Passover.  He highlighted the improper nature of these things being done in the Temple and accused them of turning the Temple into a den of thieves.  He went on to heal the blind and the lame in order to show what the true purpose of the Temple is to be.  The children who were there also praised Jesus with shouts of Hosanna and called Him the Son of David which made the religious leader extremely upset.  The strength of the small and weak is their ability to praise God.  And children especially praise Him with a pure faith that hasn’t been tainted by what happens later in life to hurt them and possibly cause them to question their faith.  But as verse 16 says, today we are to praise the children and their pure belief because they remind us of two things:  first, how important it is that we teach them at an early age about God and Jesus and Their love for us; and second, that we should also approach Jesus at all times with the pure untainted faith of children.

                   So, on this Palm Sunday, I call on each one of us to do three things.  (1) look within ourselves to see if we have in fact have fully surrendered our stubborn will to the will of Jesus our Savior.  (2) We should also ask ourselves if we take time often to thank Him and praise Him for what He has done for us on the Cross.  (3) And finally, ask if ourselves if we have a childlike faith where we trust Him completely and not question Him because of the disappointments and difficult times we have experienced in our lives.  When we are able to do these things we will be wise like the children that Jesus encountered in the Temple that day so long ago.

                    Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.