The Bible translators put a title to the paragraph describing Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and called it ‘The Triumphal Entry’. That is how they like to see it. But in truth it was a very humble entrance. The prophet Zechariah (‘God remembers’) foresaw a humble King when he prophesied: ‘rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
When Jesus fulfilled this prophecy His disciples were with him and there were people and children at the gate. The owner of the donkey and the colt obviously knew the prophetic scripture as well because he kept those animals there tied in a place where two ways meet. (Luke 29:30 – Old King James Version)
Daniel’s prophecy of 70 years predicted March 29th AD 33 as the exact date for the King’s entrance into Jerusalem! Jesus’ timing was as usual absolutely perfect!
There are some comparisons we can make between Jesus’ humble entry and our modern lifestyle that can help us to understand Jesus better.
1. He fulfilled prophecy and we can do the same
2. He rode on a new colt to indicate new things to come
3. The owner of the new colt also knew the Scriptures
4. People threw their garments down before Jesus
5. They praised and worshipped Jesus
6. Jesus wept over the city because they didn’t recognize Him
7. The Lord has need of something/someone to complete His plan and mission
A colt is an untrained and unmanageable animal likely to disgrace the rider. Jesus rode it without a saddle! My first ever car was a new Colt! (Toyota) That is the only new car I ever possessed. I sold it after a year to pay my own way to Miracle Valley in Arizona. That Colt carried me into my ministry!
A new colt speaks of new things: A New Covenant, A New Testament, A New and Living Way by the blood of Jesus into the Holy Presence of God through the veil which is His body (the Church) as we read in Hebrews 10:19-22 and A New Commandment to love God and love one another. They sang a new song on the day of His humble entry: ‘blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!’

God is the God of a new thing. He wants to do something new for you as well! You would be amazed if you knew what God is preparing to do for you in the near future! Trust Him because He means to do good to you and not to do any harm, because He loves you!

The owner of the colt helped Jesus to fulfill Scriptures because he knew the scriptures! The importance of a church knowing the scriptures cannot be over emphasized. If each member knows the Word of God then we can complete the task given to us! We want to reach the entire world with the Gospel of the Kingdom! It is an impossible task – but together we can do it! We still need to reach 82 nations and the job is done! We have reached 110 nations by now by the grace of God. We are fulfilling the prophecy that Aunty Raper gave me at the age of 12: God will use you in other lands.

There was no red carpet reception for Jesus as He entered the city, but His disciples set their clothes on the donkey and the colt and the people threw their clothes on the road before Him. In those days people only had one set of clothes. To throw their only garment before Him and the donkey and the colt was a sacrifice! But they thought it was worth it to prepare the way for Him.

Zechariah prophesied about the completion of the building of the temple and said people would praise and worship the King as He comes to them humbly riding on a donkey and the colt of a donkey. They praised Him for all the mighty works of God that was done by Him. The people also fulfilled prophecy. Those who were present must have known the Scriptures as well. The children shouted: ‘blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!’

Praise makes the enemies of Jesus uncomfortable. The Pharisees were irritated by the way people praised Jesus because they refused to praise Him. They were too proud to praise Him. Eventually Jesus prophesied to them that their house would be left desolate because they did not receive Him that was sent to them. (Matthew 23:38)

Jesus told the arrogant Pharisees if the children and people would not praise Him the rocks would cry out. There are many white rocky cliffs in and around of Jerusalem that they use to build their houses.

The Lord has need of it. The Lord needed the donkey and the colt to fulfill prophecy. The Lord has need of you and me as well. We can help Him to fulfill certain scriptures. There is something only you and I can do for Him. He said: ‘go to all the nations of the world and preach the Gospel and I will be with you!’ We can do this if we stand and work together! We can reach all the nations of the world together!