Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and Heaven

 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

With God's grace, I'd like to reflect on two momentous events that have shaped the course of human history - the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and His entry into the Holy of Holies in heaven.

Let us first turn our attention to the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. As we read in the Gospels, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah: "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). The people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus with joy, laying their cloaks and palm branches on the road, and shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Matthew 21:9).

But why did the people welcome Jesus with such joy and enthusiasm? It was because they recognized Him as the long-awaited Messiah, the one who would save them from their sins and restore their relationship with God. They saw in Jesus a king who would establish a new kingdom, a kingdom of peace and righteousness.

However, as we know, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was just the beginning of a much greater plan. He knew that His mission was not just to establish an earthly kingdom, but to reconcile us to God by offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. He knew that His journey would lead Him to the cross, where He would give His life for us.

And this brings us to the second event we reflect on today - Jesus' entry into the Holy of Holies in heaven. After His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and entered the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary of the heavenly temple. This was not just a physical entry, but a spiritual one, as Jesus presented Himself before the Father as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

The book of Hebrews describes Jesus as our great High Priest, who has passed through the heavens and entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:11-12). Through His sacrifice, Jesus has opened up a way for us to enter into the presence of God. As it says in Hebrews 10:19-22, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings."

So, as we reflect on these two events today, let us remember that Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and His entry into the Holy of Holies in heaven are not just historical events, but ongoing realities that have profound implications for our lives. Let us rejoice that we have a Savior who has conquered sin and death, and who invites us into a relationship with Him and with the Father. Let us draw near to God with confidence, knowing that we have been made clean by the blood of Jesus.

May the Holy Spirit guide us as we seek to live out the implications of these truths in our lives, and may we be faithful witnesses to the hope that we have in Christ.

Amen.