Day 300 – Jesus’ Triumphal Entry

Our final milestone! There’s plenty still to read though – so let’s keep going strongly and enjoy the final 65 days. Great work!

• Congratulations on hitting this exciting day. It’s a fitting passage to be looking at too, as in it we see Jesus returned to Jerusalem for the final time in an event often referred to as the Triumphal Entry. Today’s passage marks the start of the final week before His death (so imagine that being in the back of Jesus’ mind throughout everything that happens). There is plenty to read and discuss before we come to the cross though!
• Why did Jesus chose to ride in on a donkey? What sort of things was He communicating by doing so? What reason does Matthew give for Jesus’ choice?
• What did the crowds shout? Do you know what the word “Hosanna” means? Was Jesus popular?
• What was Jesus’ first act after arriving in? What things did he do that caused the indignation of the chief priests?
• The story of Jesus cursing the fig tree may have surprised you. You may think how it was an image of “judgement” (and of course we read a similar story earlier in our readings). That aside, what was Jesus teaching about the power of prayer? Do you think that this power is a result of the qualities of the person praying, or the strength of God?
• Matthew 21 has many different sections, but they have common themes. Look at the different stories and parables, especially verses 14-16, 23-27, 31 and 45-46. Who was Jesus challenging in all these sections, whether openly or through parable?
• As Jesus entered Jerusalem in humility, the big question that Jesus challenged people with was this: “who will enter the kingdom of God?”. Based on the parables, would you suggest it was the “outwardly good”, the legalistic rulers of Israel, or the sinners who responded to Jesus’ message with repentance in their hearts? We need to take this seriously. Our salvation is not based on our parents’ faith or our outward actions (such as going to church or even doing this reading plan). Salvation comes through a personal response to Jesus, trusting that His substitutionary death on the cross is the only way we can be made right with God. Have you done that? Do you live with this truth in your heart?
• Finish by reading the passage in Psalm 118 again. What great words of praise they are. I bet you know some of them already. Enjoy thanking and praising God, on this special day in our reading plan, for all that He has given to you.

As we enter the last couple of miles of our One Story marathon, Jesus is travelling too. As He entered the city, He knew His time was soon to come.

Jesus is God, but Jesus was fully human, with all the worries and fears and understanding of pain that humans have. Can you imagine what must have been going through His mind as He trotted in on the donkey? As He saw the cheering crowds, He knew that the same crowds would soon be baying for His blood. As He saw the teachers of the law, He knew He would soon see them again, shackled by guards and chains. As He saw His disciples, He saw men who would sell Him to His death for blood money, and scatter to the hills as persecution came.

Around Him He would have seen people who would act to harm Him or turn away from Him, and it was for exactly these people that He – God in human form – was coming to die a painful death to rescue.

Can you imagine it?