The Parade That Ushered In Disaster

I just returned home from a backpacking trip in Arkansas at Midnight last night, and truthfully, I’m exhausted. However, I also feel extremely blessed. I was asked to go on this particular trip with a backpacking course from Oklahoma Baptist University. This was an elective class that taught all of the basics of backpacking and culminated in a 4-day backpacking trip. The first night, we camped out at the local campground and planned our next three days of hiking. We would be hiking about 15 or 16 miles with about 3100 feet of elevation gain. Everyone was excited, and we were ready to go. 

The next day, we drove to our trailhead, took pictures, and then jumped on the trail. Everyone was in great spirits, and we felt like we could conquer the world. Then the first 1000-foot climb started. Needless to say, no one felt defeated or upset, but the hiking definitely got more serious. As the rest of the weekend continued on, we got in a lot of steps…about 63,000, according to my watch. By the time we came off the trail, our knees and backs were sore, and we were thankful to call it a weekend. I’ll admit. When I was taking those last few steps off of the trail and our leader for the trip, Marcus, was videoing each of us, I felt like a conquering hero. I wanted to see people cheering us on as we stepped off the trail. For all of those students, this was their first-ever backpacking trip. Celebration was needed. 

There were no crowds to cheer us on, however, and we didn’t have any fanfare. We simply high-fived each other and walked to the SUV to drive home. Hundreds of people hike that trail all the time. It’s not some amazing accomplishment that’s never been done. In the grand scheme of things, it was special or unique. While it was quite the accomplishment for our group, no one else was blown away by our achievement. We were just another group of backpackers that hiked a trail.

As we head into Easter this week, we read of a huge celebration that would happen in Jerusalem. A King was making His way to His people.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9

Here, we’re reading a prophecy of Zechariah proclaiming the arrival of the King. He was coming with salvation and riding a donkey. Most first-century Jews knew this scripture. This was something that many of them were hoping for. Rome had taken over Israel, and the people wanted their true king to come and overthrow the government. They believed that this was what their Messiah was coming to accomplish. Little did they know, it wasn’t exactly going to go that way, but that didn’t stop them from celebrating the arrival of Christ.

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
Matthew 21:1–3

Jesus was preparing to fulfill the prophecy of His return to Jerusalem as King of the Jews. He knew the risk involved in this, but He also knew the importance of His arrival. The people of Israel needed to see their Savior arrive as Zechariah had foretold. 

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Matthew 21:6–9

Celebration had broken out in Jerusalem. The people were rejoicing because their Savior had arrived. He came just as was foretold, and the crowds couldn’t hold back their excitement. The end of their oppression was at hand. The Roman government was about to receive a smackdown at the hands of God’s Son and the rightful King. It’s not surprising that they felt this way. Zechariah 9:10 tells of what will happen after His return.

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Zechariah 9:10

He will bring peace. He shall rule the earth. How could anyone not be excited about that? For years, the Romans have oppressed and ruled over the people of Israel. They were treated like second-hand citizens in their own land. The idea that a king was coming that would bring peace and rule was exciting. How would he do it? Obviously, he would overthrow the government and lay claim to the throne. Tiberius would no longer be able to govern the Jews. Their liberation was at hand.

Over the next week, that excitement would turn to frustration and anger. The coming King didn’t bring an army. He didn’t have a battle plan that would inspire the masses. He was there to save them, but they didn’t understand what He was saving them from. His plan was perfect, but it wasn’t popular, and it didn’t take long for the chants of “Hossana in the highest” to change into something with much more vitriol. This was foretold in Psalms.

All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
Psalm 22:7–8

What started as celebration was less than a week away from disaster. Cheers would turn to mocking. “Hosanna” would turn to “crucify.” It’s amazing what can happen in only six days.