The Lonely Jesus
Today is Palm Sunday. As Mat 21:1-11 reminded us, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. People laid their cloaks on the ground, waved palm branches, and shouted with joy and praise, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
Throughout Jesus’ three years of public ministry, He had never received such an enthusiastic and widespread welcome. Why? Because the religious leaders condemned Him as a heretic, preventing the people from following Him freely.
People of Israel were commanded to return to Jerusalem three times a year to observe the major feasts. Palm Sunday took place one week before Passover, so many Israelites were already making their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival.
According to the Jewish historian Josephus, during the 1st century, the population of Israelites living in Judea, Galilee, and the surrounding regions such as Samaria and Idumea was about 2.5 to 3 million. He recorded that nearly 2.7 million people would gather in Jerusalem for the Passover (Deut 16:16).
However, because God’s command was specifically for all males to gather, many scholars believe Josephus’ figure may be slightly exaggerated. A more realistic estimate would be that around 500,000 to 1 million people came to Jerusalem for Passover. So, imagine the scale of the welcome and celebration Jesus received as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Why was Jesus entering Jerusalem?
He was coming to be crucified-for the sins of humanity. As He entered, He could already foresee that the same voices shouting “Hosanna!” would soon cry out, “Crucify Him!” Jesus was heading into Jerusalem to bear the cross. Yet no one understood His heart. The crowd simply shouted the joy and excitement, oblivious to the suffering He was about to endure. How lonely must Jesus have felt? That’s why today’s message is titled: “The Lonely Jesus.”
So then, what was it that the people failed to understand?
- They did not understand the words of Jesus
Hadn’t Jesus already told His disciples-and those who believed in Him and followed Him that He would suffer and die on the cross? Yes, He had told them many times.
- First, at Caesarea Philippi, after Peter’s confession of faith (Mat 16:21-28; Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22)
- He spoke again in Galilee (Mat 17:22-23; Mark 9:31-32; Luke 9:43-45)
- Then, right before entering Jerusalem (Mat 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34)
- And one more time – during Passion Week, after entering Jerusalem – in the Upper Room (Mat 26:1-2; Mark 14:18-21)
Even though Jesus told them three times before entering Jerusalem that He would be crucified there, not one person seemed to truly understand His heart. The path that Jesus walked toward the cross is known as the Via Dolorosa – the “Way of Suffering.” We often weep as we imagine Jesus walking that road, carrying His heavy cross alone. But in truth, Jesus had already begun walking His Via Dolorosa from the moment He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
The disciples, who had followed Him for three years, should have been by His side, supporting Him. Yet even they were swept up in the crowd’s excitement and cheers. And so, Jesus walked this lonely path by Himself.
- They did not realize that this was Jesus’ seventh entry into Jerusalem.
- When He was eight days old, for the rite of purification (Luke 2:21-24)
- When He was twelve, to celebrate the Passover with His mother (Luke 2:41-50)
- During His public ministry, for the first Passover-He cleansed the temple (John 2:13-25)
- Durin a Jewish feast, when He healed a man who had been sick for 38 years (John 5:1-14)
- During the Feast of Tabernacles, when He refused to condemn the woman caught in adultery (John 7:1-14)
- For the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) (John 10:22-39)
- On Palm Sunday-for His last Passover (John 12:12-19)
In the Bible, the number seven represents perfection and completion. Jesus entered Jerusalem for the seventh time shows us that He came to complete the mission for which He was sent to this world.
Of course, the disciples at that time would not have recognized this significance. But we, who have the full Scriptures, can understand it. That is why we must observe Palm Sunday with deep understanding about Him in our hearts.
Dear beloved congregation, because the people had forgotten the words of Jesus, even in the midst of the great crowds and loud hosannas, Jesus stood alone. He had already foretold everything, and now-through His seventh entry into Jerusalem-He was proclaiming the completion of His mission. And yet, no one understood.
So let me ask you today:
Are we remembering God’s Word?
Are we truly remembering what He has done for us?
If we forget God’s Word and the mighty works He has done, then even if our church is filled with people, even if we shout and sing with great enthusiasm- we may still become a church that makes God feels alone.
Members of TLCC, as we now enter Passion Week, let us fix our hearts on God’s Word. Let this be a week where we think only about the Word, meditate on the Word, and remember the Word.
Let us remember Jesus alone and remember only what Jesus has done. We will gather every evening this week for Passion Week services. And I tell you: Even if you’ve heard these sermons every year, this year’s Word will be new. It will awaken your soul in a fresh way.
So cancel your personal plans. If possible delay your business to next week. God will not let you suffer loss for choosing Him first. Above all, dear friends. Let us not make our Lord, our God, our Father feel alone this year. Let us walk with Him. Let us remember Him.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 