Prophecy Fulfillment Is A Condition Of Our Actions

Words of Jesus Podcast

"Surely, they will reverence my Son." The people of Israel had prophecies regarding the coming Messiah, yet even as the people accepted by faith the obvious identity of Jesus - he (and His Father) were rejected by the church leaders. This rejection did not allow the fulfillment of the prophecies of Jesus ministry. We presume that "everything happened according to the will of God." The gospel and the ministry of Jesus Christ required the participation of his people. Prophecies' may be fulfilled in many ways. Jesus always obeyed His Father even if the result directly contradicted the expectation of the religious leaders.

***

91: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19

As Jesus led his followers toward Jerusalem and drew near to Bethpage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he called two of his disciples to him and said to them:

“Go your way into the village over against you; and as soon as ye entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, ‘Why do ye this?’ say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”

This was done, that the words of the prophet might be fulfilled:

“Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, thy king cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.”

At first his disciples did not understand these things but, when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that they had done those things that had been written by the prophet.

The two disciples went as directed by Jesus, and found the colt just as Jesus had told them. They began to untie the colt. The owners of it said to the disciples:

“Why loose ye the colt?”

The disciples replied as Jesus had instructed them, saying:

“The Lord hath need of him.”

Thereupon the owners permitted the disciples to take the ass. When the colt had been brought to Jesus, garments were thrown over and Jesus sat upon it.

Then, as Jesus descended the Mount of Olives, the great multitude spread their garments on the ground over which he would pass. Others cut branches from the trees and strewed the road with them to celebrate his entrance into Jerusalem.

The multitude joyously shouted:

“Hosanna; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord. Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.”

Some of the Pharisees spoke to Jesus, complaining about the shouting. They said:

“Master, rebuke thy disciples.”

Jesus answered them, saying:

“I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Then the Pharisees said among themselves:

“Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him.”

When Jesus came near and beheld the city of Jerusalem, he wept over it and said:

“If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou newest not the time of thy visitation.”

Jesus entered into the city and the entire city was stirred with excitement and asked:

“Who is this?”

The multitude with Jesus answered them, shouting:

“This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus entered into the temple and looked around, but since it was now evening, he retired with his disciples to Bethany.