December 3, 2025
A New Beginning - Part 3
Matthew 21:6-8
12/03/2025
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. (ESV)
As we begin this new Church Year, we are preparing to
celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ, who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was born so to
ride into Jerusalem during the governorship of Pontius Pilate, to
be crucified as the worst of criminals, and to rise again from
the dead. By reading of the events of Palm Sunday on the first
Sunday in Advent, we confess that Jesus came in our place to bear
our sin and be our Savior.
There were faithful Jewish people from all over the known
world who journeyed to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Many of
these pilgrims recognized Jesus as the Messiah. They reacted to
Jesus directing His disciples to obtain a donkey colt so that He
would enter into the city on the back of this beast of burden.
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. Most of the crowd
spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut
branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Although Jesus humbly rode into the city, the crowds
announced His arrival. They expected to see some great works,
some miracles, or maybe the final confrontation in which the
forces of Rome would be expelled from the land and the Kingdom
restored to the heirs of David and Solomon. What they saw,
several days later, was the bruised, tortured, wounded body of
Jesus hanging lifeless on the cross as a strange darkness lay
over the whole world.
May our Lord grant us faith and wisdom to understand His
first coming has redeemed us from sin and death. Amen.