8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Jesus now entered Jerusalem on the colt presenting Himself as the King of Israel. The people leading the way and following Jesus riding on the donkey caused a commotion.
21:8
And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road [in homage]; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road [in homage].
A “very great multitude” went before Jesus in a procession of praise, acknowledging Him as the King of Israel. This festivity was a deliberate manifestation of Himself as the Messiah.
21:9
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out,
Those coming before and after Jesus constituted a royal procession. The Greek indicates that they were constantly crying out in repeated fashion (imperfect tense). They approach the city from the east.
saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David [Messianic title]! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
The multitude sang a song taken from the Messianic Psalm 118:25-26. This was a psalm used at the Passover called “the great Hallel.” The word “hosanna” is the transliteration of the Greek word save now. This is a note of triumph regarding the coming King. This triumph will not be fulfilled until Jesus comes again riding on a white horse (Re 19).
Israel sang Psalm 118 twice a year, at the Passover and at the Feast of Tabernacles. The Passover represents the cross and Tabernacles represents the crown. There are two purposes of the two advents of Christ:
In the first advent Jesus came to save us from our sins.
The Second Advent is for the purpose of the restoration of the nation Israel, when Israel will crown Him King of Kings.
21:10
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
The whole city was troubled about this event. However, the people of Jerusalem did not recognize Jesus as the King of Israel.
21:11
So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
The response that Jesus was a prophet from Nazareth indicated unbelief in His Messiahship.
PRINCIPLE:
People want a religion of success rather than revelation of truth.
APPLICATION:
Jesus came for His coronation as King Jesus, but Israel formally rejected Him as Messiah King. The populace of Jerusalem wanted a King to bring success and power. People today want a god to give them health and wealth. They will proclaim Jesus to be King as long as He meets their wants. They want an empty, hollow religion. The God of revelation is entirely different than this god of their own making.
