Worship Notes

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it.”

Seems a strange ending to a pericope that began “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”  The Triumphal Entry, as it’s known, was a grand celebration, filled with symbolism.  It begins with Jesus commandeering a donkey for His ride into Jerusalem.  Leaders would often ride horses into a city as a sign of strength for war, but riding a donkey meant that He was coming to bring peace.  The people cast down their cloaks and cut palm branches to lay at Jesus’ feet, a practice used to indicate the highest of honor to the person who would walk on the cloaks.  The symbolism of the Triumphal Entry mirrors that of Solomon’s ride into Jerusalem as David was pronouncing that, his son, Solomon, would be the new king.  By all accounts, the Triumphal Entry was the processional of a royal coronation – Jesus was to be crowned King!

And then it happens.  Only Luke records it, but it is a dramatic change in Jesus’ demeanor even as the celebration continues around Him.  Jesus wept at the site of Jerusalem.  The spiritual condition of the city and His foreknowledge of the week that was ahead of Him had to weigh heavily on Jesus in that moment.  His coronation would end, not with a crown of gold, but with a crown of thorns. Jesus is indeed King, for He is the King of kings, but this victory was going to come at the cost of His own life.

To Thee before Thy Passion, they sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee now high exalted, our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises; Accept the praise we bring,
Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King.

Our humble King rode in on a symbol of peace and laid down the crown of the Almighty in exchange for a shameful crown of thorns.  And it did it all for you and me.  Thank you, God, for your unmeasurable sacrifice.

Chris

Don’t know one of the songs we’re singing?  Check them out here:

Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)
https://youtu.be/VMBDWG9tseU?si=i6Tn4cPVKbyk3T0Q

All Glory, Laud, and Honor (Modern)
https://youtu.be/FgLt7jyBhc8?si=2eGvdeVFYpjI6iTx

Goodness of God
https://youtu.be/n0FBb6hnwTo?si=p4kIV3ZDglStGUR8