Jesus Fulfills Zachariah's Prophecy

The crowd of pilgrims that had spent the day traveling from Jericho arrived at Jerusalem’s outskirts. Basically, it is a rugged climb, about fifteen miles uphill. Even though Jesus and his followers were in good shape, such a trip would have been a full day’s march. Then in what would have been late afternoon, they approached Bethpage, east of Jerusalem proper.

There, at Bethpage, Jesus sent two disciples into the next village, which would have been Bethany. It is the village just before one descends the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. He sent them to bring a donkey for him to ride into Jerusalem. When they brought the donkey back, the symbolism was not lost on the crowd who began to celebrate him as the Messiah.

The synoptic gospels tell of his entry differently than John. Much has been written trying to explain their variance, but the easier explanation is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke record Jesus entering Jerusalem late Friday afternoon as part of the pilgrim band. John, however, is talking about his return on Sunday, after the Sabbath.

With Jesus mounted on the donkey, as foretold by Zachariah, they went through Bethany to the edge of the Mount of Olives, preparing to descend into the Kidron Valley on the outskirts of the city.

Moreover, the coming Sabbath was Nisan 10. Beginning at sunset, it was the day the Passover lamb was to be selected and brought into the celebrant’s home. Mark later tells us it was evening when he left Jerusalem, which places him in the home of the nation, Jerusalem, on the evening beginning Nisan 10. Thus, the “lamb of God” had been brought home, as the Law directed.

The dating of the other events of Passion Week are keyed to Passover, which always began with the meal on the evening of the full moon. Algorithms show that to have been on March 4. Thus, they arrived Friday, February 27.