Palm Sunday (CL)

Matthew 21:1-11
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5  “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.’ ”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 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!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 21:1–11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The thing that has always confused me a little about this text is why both animals? The disciples bring a donkey and a colt. I remember going to a rodeo one summer and seeing a many stand up riding on two horses at the same time. I thought that was really cool. But a Donkey and it's colt with cloaks over top of both of them. This seems a little amazing. But some things have to be done in order to fulfill what the prophet had spoken.

Jesus Christ comes into Jerusalem as the King of Israel. He comes with shouts of praise. They say he is the Son of David. He is the Holy one of the LORD. They lay their cloaks in the road like rolling out the red carpet. The crowds even cut branches from trees to make a bigger carpet. All the people praise him as King which stirs up the entire city of Jerusalem. Is this the King of Israel? Is this the Son of David? Is this the Holy One of Israel?

Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God comes into Jerusalem with praise. He will leave Jerusalem with mocking. He comes into to being carried by two animals. He will leave carrying his own cross and instrument of death. He comes to his city as a King and he leaves the city finally crowned with thorns. Jesus Christ is the Holy One of God who will be crucified for the forgiveness of the sins of the World. But this does not explain why a donkey and a colt? The only answer left is simple, It is the fulfillment of Holy Scripture. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of All Scripture and the Salvation of God.