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.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet (Note 1), saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks. 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!” And when He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11

And thus begins Passion Week. At this point Jesus is a rockstar. Yet He enters Jerusalem humbly, knowing everything that lies ahead.

The name Passion Week derives from the passion Jesus displays in willingly going to the Cross to pay the price for our sins. Mine and yours. His passion for us is also reflected in His clearing of the Temple, His altercations with the Pharisees, His teachings on end times and His second coming, and His teachings and the tensions of The Last Supper.

The only suitable response is a passionate identification with Jesus, in our following earnestly after Him, and in our proclamation of the Good News.

Note 1: Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorious, but humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 GNT

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