Ancient Israel desired a political ruler, not a savior

Jesus entered Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry on Sunday, April 2, 30 A.D. Passover was scheduled to take place five days later; however, the Jewish people did not want to celebrate the Feast of Passover. They wanted to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

In the Old Testament God gave the calendar to the Jewish people. In Leviticus 23 the calendar of Israel revolved around seven great feasts. Two of the greatest feasts were the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. Every Jewish man was required to save ten percent of his income. With this money he was required to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and Tabernacles every year. God’s clear intention was for each father to bring his family to Jerusalem and have a great time worshiping God. In the calendar of Israel, Passover always takes place before Tabernacle.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Sunday, April 2, 30 A.D., he came to die as the Passover lamb. The Apostle John began his gospel with, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The Feast of Passover commemorated the exodus when each Jewish family was required to kill a lamb. Its blood was placed upon the doorposts of the house. When the angel of death saw the blood it passed over them. Passover pointed to Jesus. Passover was fulfilled in the death of Jesus. His blood on the cross washes away our sins.

However, in Matthew 21 the people clearly demonstrated they were not interested in celebrating Passover. They wanted to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. The Old Testament said that Tabernacles was a picture of the messianic kingdom (Zechariah 14:16-21). The people wanted a political Savior, not a messiah who died for their sins. By their words and their actions they acted as if it was the Feast of Tabernacles and not the Feast of Passover. They anticipated Jesus setting up the messianic kingdom when he entered the city.

Mark 11:8 reads, “And many spread their garments on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” Matthew 21:8 makes the same point. John 12:12-13 specifies the kind of branches that were cut. “The next day a very great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him.” This is significant because this was something done in celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, not Passover. The breaking of palm branches in observance for the Feast of Tabernacles was commanded by Moses in Leviticus 23:40.

A century earlier when the Maccabees won great victories over the Syrians the people also broke palm branches. The masses broke palm branches and welcomed their heroes into Jerusalem. They expected the Maccabees to set up the kingdom and overthrow the Gentile leaders.

In John 12:13 the multitudes cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” The Hebrew word is hoshannah, which means “save now.” The Greeks could not pronounce the “sh” sound. Therefore, it became “hosanna” in the Greek language. Imagine tens of thousands of people lining the main street into Jerusalem. Like a mighty thunder they chanted, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Save now! Save now!” Not only in their actions, but in what they said they reacted as if it were the Feast of Tabernacles.

In the Jewish celebrations of the Feast of Tabernacles there were many prayers known as the hosanna prayers. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles they marched around the altar seven times. Their main prayer was, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” Or, “Save us now! Save us now!”

Matthew 21:10 says, “And when He had come into Jerusalem all the city was stirred.” The Greek word for stirred is a strong one. It means “to be shaken by an earthquake.” All the people understood that something significant was taking place.

However, we must come to God on his terms, not ours. Your greatest need is not a political kingdom or earthly power or temporal riches. The greatest need in every person is the forgiveness of sins. The greatest need is reconciliation with God. Only the Passover Lamb, Jesus the Messiah, can forgive sin. He entered Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry riding on a donkey. Three centuries earlier Alexander the Great had entered the city riding a white stallion. Jesus came not to wage war but to bring peace. Jesus brought peace between God and man through his death, burial and resurrection.

God will not be manipulated. True salvation begins with repentance. You must bow the knee before Jesus on his terms. As Resurrection Sunday approaches, do not allow your agenda to blind you to the greatest gift of all — forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God. The same ones who welcomed him on Sunday cheered his crucifixion on Friday. May we not do the same in our lives. May we understand that God’s blessing does come, but only as a result of coming to God on his terms.

Ethan Hansen is pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. Contact him at ethanchansen@gci.net.