Summary: On that day there were at least three different audiences as Jesus entered Jerusalem to be crowned as King -- His followers, the religious leaders and the Roman government. His followers were excited. Finally their time had come. All the mocking, threats, doubting and skepticism was about to be silenced. The one they had followed was about to be crowned King. He was going to establish His Kingdom and they would be honored and celebrated. Would they have to take up arms? Would He just call down fire? Who cares today was the day. There were the Pharisees and religious leaders who were threatened by this so called messiah. He was upsetting the tedious balance they had established with the Roman government. He was bringing unwanted scrutiny upon their well established positions of religious prominence. They knew they had to kill Him. Then you had the Roman soldiers. They were the least moved. They had seen their share of insurrectionist, rebels and trouble makers. This Jesus was different but no threat to the great army of Emperor Julius Caesar. And lastly, we have Jesus. He was in a crowd but physically alone. No one, not even His disciples really understood what Jerusalem meant. It meant death. It meant separation. It meant He'd soon be tortured, crucified and banished to a place, to pay a debt. It meant becoming God's sacrifice for people that still couldn't grasp what His Kingdom actually meant.
