Friday, March 26, 2010

Why did Jesus Enter Jerusalem so Publicly?

Prior to Jesus entering into Jerusalem for the last time before His crucifixion, He would tell people not to spread His name or He would remove Himself from the spotlight. J.C. Ryle tells why His last entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11) was different.
The plain truth is that our Lord knew well that the time of his earthly ministry was drawing to a close; he knew the hour was approaching when he must finish the mighty work he came to do, by dying for our sins upon the cross. He knew that his last journey had been accomplished, and that there remained nothing now in his earthly ministry except to be offered as a sacrifice on Calvary Knowing all this, he no longer, as in times past, sought secrecy; knowing all this, he thought it good to enter the place where he was to be delivered to death, with particular solemnity and publicity. It was not fitting that the Lamb of God should come to be slain on Calvary privately and silently. Before the great sacrifice for the sin of the world was offered up, it was right that every eye should be fixed on the victim. It was suitable that the crowning act of our Lord's life should be done with as much notoriety as possible. That was why he made this public entry; that was why he attracted to himself the eyes of the wondering multitude; that was why "the whole city was stirred" (verse 10). The atoning blood of the Lamb of God was about to be shed; this deed was not to be "done in a corner" (Acts 26:26).

Taken from his commentary on Matthew

1 comment:

BoldLion said...

Thank you for sharing this with us! Interesting point!

Hungry to eat His Word,
'Guerite ~ BoldLion