No, this isn’t a post about hunting for Easter Eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny. Instead, I’m referring to secrets hidden in various forms of media that reference other media sources as in-jokes or plot connections. An example is an Egyptian engraving of R2-D2 from Star Wars hidden in a scene from one of the Indiana Jones movies. In our culture, these are often just for fun; however, the hints recorded in the Bible are for more serious intent.
Hinting the Text
If someone quotes a line from a movie, those who know the film well instantly are drawn back into the scene. But those who haven’t seen it miss what is being said. Jews in the time of Jesus memorized so much Scripture that saying just a few words instantly triggered their mind to recall a whole passage of the biblical text. Purposeful actions did likewise. We usually catch these citations when clearly quoted but miss many of the more subtle references because we don’t know Scripture well enough. Much of the time Jesus teaches or acts, he makes a hint or two to his Bible, our Old Testament (centuries later this common hinting technique received the label of remez).
Allusions and Echoes with Jesus’ Entry
Since today is Palm Sunday, let’s look for references to Hebrew Bible texts in the account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We can look back and know Jesus entered as the Messiah King, but can we find clues in the biblical text that supports this? The first one is easy, since it is a clear quote from Zechariah 9:9, identified as such in some Bibles.
This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
Matthew 21:4-5 (ESV)
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’
Less obvious is the first reference in the Bible to a colt by Jacob when he gives his son Judah a blessing. The verse is viewed as a messianic reference, a hint that a king of Israel (the scepter) will come from Judah’s line.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Genesis 49:10-11a (ESV)
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine
Linking Location
Places hold memories. If you return to your childhood home, key times from your youth flood your mind. Jesus enters Jerusalem coming down the Mount of Olives. The valley at the bottom is the Kidron. Here we find Jerusalem’s water source, the Gihon Spring. A good thing to ask when you read the Bible is, “Did anything significant happen here before?”
We find the answer here:
Zadok the priest… went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
1 Kings 1:38-39 (ESV)
Jesus, the ultimate Son of David (a messianic title) makes his entry on a humble animal near the place where Solomon, riding his father David’s humble beast, was anointed king. Jesus’ use of this location speaks of his kingship with no words needed.
Kings were anointed, as we see with Solomon here. “The Messiah” means “The Anointed One.” “Christ” comes from the Greek for “Anointed” (Christos). When we say Jesus Christ, it means King Jesus! Throughout his ministry, Jesus teaches about his kingdom.
Uncloaking the Cloaks
We read “Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road” (Matthew 21:8, ESV). Let’s see if “cloaks” is a hinting word. What meaning is there in putting your robe on the ground? Searching the Bible, we find something similar:
‘Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.’ ” Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”
2 Kings 9:12-13 (ESV)
Another link with Jesus’ entry and his being declared king!
Waving the Past with Palms
Many of us remember wildly waving palm branches in church on Palm Sunday, happy to have something to do besides sitting quietly. Is there any meaning behind the palms in Jesus’ entry?
The main link here is a historic one. The Jewish group that led the victory over their Greek occupiers was the Maccabees, freeing their country from enemy rule and re-establishing an independent state for the first time in over 400 years. In 142 BC Simon Maccabee regained the citadel of Jerusalem. Note what is recorded:
They cried to Simon to make peace with them, and he did so. But he expelled them from there and cleansed the citadel from its pollutions. … the Jews entered it with praise and palm branches,… because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel.
1 Maccabees 13:50-51
Not only do we see the connection with palms and praise, but note that he cleanses the citadel, a possible link with Jesus’ cleansing of the temple after his entry.
The people in Jerusalem view Jesus entering as their king, clearly identified with these connections. They are desperate for Messiah to come and save them from Rome. They don’t realize Jesus’ kingship has a much bigger purpose.
Later rabbinic literature said of the coming Messiah: “It is the one who takes the palm branch in his hand that we know to be the victor.” (Leviticus Rabba 30:2)
Ho-ho-ho-hosanna!
What does “hosanna” mean and is there any connection in the Old Testament? Hosanna literally means “save” and is used multiple times in the Hebrew Bible. This one directly relates to the words cried out by the crowd as Jesus enters:
Save us (hoshiah na), we pray, O LORD!
Psalm 118:25 (ESV)
Not only a cry for help, by the time of Jesus, but it also had a secondary meaning of praise.
Singing Hallelujah with the Hallel
People are coming from all over to Jerusalem for Passover. After the Passover meal, they sing Psalms 113-118, known as The Hallel (hallel means “praise” — hallelujah means “praise Yah, short for Yahweh), so these words are on their minds as the enter the city. The final one, Psalm 118 was considered a messianic song of acclamation.
Notice what the people say immediately after “hosanna.”
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Matthew 21:9 (ESV)
Compare this to the Psalm they are quoting from memory
Save us (hoshiah na), we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
Psalm 118:25-26 (ESV)
Note they change the Psalm from “O LORD” to “Son of David.” This shows they are equating the LORD (Yahweh) with the Son of David. Their quote of “the one who comes” (or elsewhere the Coming One) is a messianic title. Not only are the people calling out for God’s help and praising him, but they are also boldly proclaiming that Jesus is the promised Coming One.
The next verse hints at what will happen in a few days to this Coming One, when he becomes the sacrifice for our sin.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
Psalm 118:27 (ESV)
Was the crowd fickle?
Finally, one caution. Sadly, it is common to hear that the same crowd that welcomed Jesus on Palm Sunday cried out “crucify him!” on Friday. That is not true and is the basis for centuries of anti-semitism. The Jewish pilgrims celebrated their long Passover meal late into the night and would not be up at the crack of dawn. The Sadducees riled up rent-a-mob for their cause. Jesus was so popular with the crowds that his arrest and trial had to be done in secret during the night.
Ponder The King
Jesus was quiet about his being the promised Messianic King until his bold entry into the holy city. Through his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus ascended to his place at the right hand of God on his throne. Peter tells about this on Pentecost:
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God…
Acts 2:32-33a (ESV)
As you think about Jesus declaring his kingship to Jerusalem on that “Palm Sunday” so long ago, evaluate how you are doing with submitting to his authority over your life. Worship the King today and surrender to his will daily.