Living in Christ’s Victory — Triumph
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:3 NKJV For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Palm Sunday is the time we remember Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
For the last several months of His life and ministry, opposition against the Christ became intense. Jesus knew something that others did not know. He was coming into Jerusalem to triumph over the very powers of sin and Satan. Some 400 to 500 years earlier, the prophet Zechariah prophesied about this momentous day. He said, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is uncompromisingly just and having salvation triumphant and victorious. He is patient, meek, lowly and riding on a donkey, the colt of a donkey,” (Zechariah 9:9).
The preceding day, Jesus was present at a meal at the home of Simon, who had been a leper. While at the table, Mary broke a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it on His head and feet, (Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-8). Many people were there to see both Jesus and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. Many of those present had been touched, healed, and delivered by Jesus. From Bethany, Jesus came into Jerusalem from the east side at Bethphage, where the Mount of Olives faces the Holy City. Everything foretold by the prophets was being fulfilled. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as the King of Glory came into the city.
This is Christ’s Triumphal Entry.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB95 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
Watch the prophecy of Christ’s triumphal entry unfold.
Matthew 21:1 ESV Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Matthew 21:2 ESV 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.
Matthew 21:3-4 ESV 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, saying,
Matthew 21:5 ESV “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.’ ”
Matthew 21:6-7 ESV The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and He sat on them.
Matthew 21:8 ESV Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Matthew 21:9 ESV 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!”
Matthew 21:10-11 ESV 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.”
Jesus the Christ was at last entering into Jerusalem to change history and break the chains and bondage of sin, but He did not do it the way they expected.
The celebration was a high day for the people of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas as they remembered the things that He had done.
Prophecies were being fulfilled before their eyes and everyone expected great things to happen as the King of Glory rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Lazarus, whom Jesus had called out of the tomb, was with Him and the people rushed to see the man who had been raised from the dead. The whole region was joyful and excited to see Jesus coming into Jerusalem, (John 12:12-22).
Everyone was shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
This was the last time Jesus entered into Jerusalem before He was betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified.
This is Palm Sunday and next Sunday is the resurrection.
In many ways, Christ’s entry appeared to be far from triumph for many people were plotting to kill Him. Although they were enraged at what He had said and done, it appeared the whole world had gone after Him. They were ready to kill both Him and Lazarus. They wanted Lazarus dead because he was a living and undeniable example of Christ’s power. No one had ever done the mighty and wonderful things Jesus had done. Many testimonies were circulating of miracles, healings, and mighty works of power. They wanted to kill Christ because He defied them.
Multitudes of people spread their cloaks on the road and others cut branches from trees and spread them on the road before Jesus.
The crowd shouted: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” All of Jerusalem was stirred by the shout of triumph.
Matthew 21:12-13 NKJV Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
The blind and lame came to Him in the Temple and He healed them, and everyone in the Temple shouted, “Praise God for the Son of David.” The leaders of the Jews became enraged at Him when they heard what the people and children were saying. The Sadducees demanded to know Who gave Him the right to do and say these things, but Jesus silenced them. When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered around and asked Him what was the greatest commandment of the law?
Matthew 22:37 NKJV Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
Matthew 26:1-3 ESV When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Crucifixion does not appear to be an entry into triumph.
Everything He said and did was being questioned and rejected. Even those who had followed Him closely and had become His disciples were turning away as He was handed over to Pilate to be crucified.
I want to show you Christ’s triumph.
Before we can really understand His triumph, we must see what Jesus was up against.
The Psalmist wrote about this.
Psalm 88:3–4 NIV84 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
Psalm 88:5–6 NIV84 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
To bring real triumph, our Lord had to face the ridicule and shame of public humiliation and then the cross and death.
On the cross, Jesus confronted the full power of sin’s penalty and every force of darkness. If He could be defeated, there would be no triumph. To bring complete and lasting triumph, Jesus faced and defeated all of our greatest enemies. He Who knew no sin became sin for us to provide forgiveness of sins. He faced and conquered every code and regulation that was against you. The burden and penalty of everyone’s sin was laid upon Him and He took it all away and nailed it to the cross. He disarmed every power and authority that would come against us and triumphed over them all by the cross. Pay attention to all of that.
Jesus dealt death a fatal blow.
He conquered principalities, powers, and the rulers of darkness.
Ephesians 4:8 NKJV Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
Ephesians 4:9 NKJV (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:10 NKJV He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Jesus entered into the realm of death and the grave to lead captives into triumph.
Listen to what John said about Christ’s glory.
Revelation 1:17–18 NKJV And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
When He led captivity captive, He gave gifts to men. He came out of the grave with all authority and power over death and the grave.
When Christ triumphed, He made us more than conquerors with Him.
No wonder the writer of Hebrews said, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross… and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). His victory has become our victory. His triumph is the reason we rejoice.
This is Christ’s triumphal entry.
When He entered Jerusalem, He was headed past the cross and the grave. Jesus was on the attack to conquer the power of sin and death and He did not stop until He arose in victory. His knew His victory would bring every believer into His triumph. As a result of Christ’s triumph, God put all things under His authority, and made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. (Ephesians 1:22 NLT) When God put everything under His feet, He made His church more than conquerors.
This is the triumph of Christ.
Revelation 1:17-18 Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
We know something today that they did not know when Jesus entered Jerusalem that day. Jesus the Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a declaration of victory for His church. This victory is for you.
Romans 8:31 NKJV What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
There is hope, health, healing, deliverance, and salvation for you because Jesus Christ triumphed.