Do you ever wonder what Jesus thought when he entered Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38a)? He knew the hearts of the people in the crowd. They were looking for an earthly king to free them from the bondage of Rome. They loved the miracles he performed, but not the miracle Maker. Jesus was not fooled by their enthusiasm. But this is the Jesus who wept over Jerusalem—the Jesus who knows the hearts of men and loves sinners.
Jesus knew that the Last Supper was the last time he would drink “of the fruit of the vine” until the disciples drank it again with him in his Father’s kingdom (Luke 22:18). In Gethsemane, Jesus knew his hour had come, yet he told his disciples, “Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand” (John 26:46). He took specific steps toward the impending crucifixion.
When the crowd from the chief priests and elders came to arrest Jesus, he rebuked Peter for defending him (Matthew 26:53) saying, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” He knew the evil intentions of his accusers, but he also knew that everything taking place was to fulfill the Scriptures.
Several times, Jesus had foretold of his impending death. Yet he kept pushing forward, without hesitation. He was determined to go to the cross. The cup of suffering had not been taken from him, and he was determined to do his Father’s will.
While he hung in agony on the cross, Jesus did not ask his Father to send twelve legions of angels. Rather, he asked his Father to “forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34b). As we read these accounts of Jesus, we can acknowledge that all his actions make sense. After all, he is the sinless Savior who lived in perfect obedience to the Father’s will. But that does not mean that he did not suffer real agony.
Hebrews 12 gives us another insight into Jesus’ dogged determination to go to the cross—“who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (verse 2). Yes, Jesus knew he would be resurrected. He knew he would ascend to heaven to rule with authority. He knew his work of redemption was finished. The joy that was set before him was also the joy of redeeming sinners, of making a way for sinners to become righteous before God.
It was the joy of a good Shepherd laying down his life for his sheep. What joy it must have given Jesus to tell the thief on the cross that he would join him in heaven, all because of Jesus’ blood spilled for sinful men. And someday, he will have the joy of hearing “the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted to her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—’”
(Revelation 19:6-8)
This is what we celebrate this Easter! We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the atonement purchased for sinners, the position of Jesus in heaven, the day he returns to make all things right, and the wedding feast of the Lamb! This Easter, look back with gratitude and look forward with joy!
A WONDERFUL SURPRISE
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds shouted, “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the King!” Just a few days after they had yelled, “Hosanna!” the people shouted, “Crucify him!” On the third day after Jesus died, everyone received a big surprise—Jesus was alive! Part of the Bible Verses to Remember series, A Wonderful Surprise helps preschoolers to memorize Scripture and understand how it applies to their little lives today.
