Matthew 21: 1-11
Verses 1-5 tell of an amazing miracle that occurred as Jesus prepared to enter Jerusalem. The Savior sends to disciples to get an ass and a colt so that He can enter Jerusalem as prophesied. He sends the disciples to a village to get the two animals and instructs them how to handle the situation if anyone asks them. All things happened as the Savior instructed, and the animals were brought to Him so that the prophecy could be fulfilled. “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”
In verses 6-7, it is very interesting that it seems that both the ass and the colt were brought to him. The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) states “… and brought the colt, and put on it their clothes; and Jesus took the colt and sat thereon; and they followed him.”
In verses 8-9, we read of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem. The multitudes spread their garments in the way as they would for an earthly king. They also cut down branches from the nearby trees and strawed them, also reverencing the Savior as an earthly king. The multitude also went before the Savior to announce Him as they would an earthly king, but in this case they were proclaiming Him as the Messiah: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that comething in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” The proclamation came from Psalm 118:26. Without question the people are welcoming the Messiah.
In verses 10-11 there were many in Jerusalem for the Passover, who did not know who Jesus was, so they asked. The multitude responses that “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” The multitude was bearing their testimony of the Savior as a prophet and the Messiah. The faithful were the simple and believing. We should be such.
Mark 11:1-11
In verses 1-6, more detail is given about the obtaining of the colt for Jesus to ride on entering into Jerusalem. In the Matthew 21 account, there was an ass and a colt brought to Jesus. In the Mark account there is only a colt. The JST of the Matthew account clears this up and makes the two accounts consistent. The Mark account also indicates that the two disciples were challenged as they loosed the colts and with the response given by the Savior, they were allowed to take the colt. This is just another example of a wonderful miracle performed by the Savior.
In verses 7-11, the Savior is acknowledged as the Messiah. He was fulfilling scripture, and the humble of the earth felt the truth. The right people were there at the right time to proclaim Him as the Savior of the world. Rather than staying in Jerusalem, the Lord returns to Bethany to be with family, disciples, and friends.
Luke 19:29-44
In verses 29-38, the events recorded in Matthew and Mark are given without much variation. In verses 39-40, a new conversation is given between the Savior and some of the Pharisees in which the Pharisees asked the Savior to rebuke his disciples about praising him. The Savior’s response is “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” No response is recorded. What an amazing testimony. Prophecy was being fulfilled.
In verses 41-44, the Savior prophesies concerning Jerusalem, as He wept over the city. He prophesies about the siege and the inability of the inhabitants to leave the city. After the siege is successful, not one stone shall be left on another. In 66 AD that prophecy was fulfilled. The love of the Savior for the House of Israel and His children is not more evident than in this passage. He weeps for us repeated, because of His love for us. His atoning sacrifice is another manifestation of His love for us. We should follow Him more faithfully.
John 12:12-19
In verses 12-15, the Savior’s entry into Jerusalem is chronicled, paralleling the other three accounts. It mentions specifically what scripture was fulfilled with his entry into Jerusalem on the colt of an ass. In verse 16, John mentions how they did not understand many things about the prophecies before the Savior’s crucifixion, but after His resurrection they did understand the prophecies, because I believe that the Savior taught the Apostles about the scriptures and how He fulfilled them. We also learn that those who were with the Savior when He raised Lazarus from the dead were testifying of what the He did and that is one reason why the people met Jesus and praised him. That is an interesting insight. In verse 19, the Pharisees bemoan that the world has gone after Him.
