21 Entrance into Jerusalem

Matthew 21:1-11
“And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethpage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of an ass.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.”
This Icon depicts Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem which is celebrated in the Church on Palm Sunday. Christ can be seen riding on the ass as written in Zechariah 9:9 and quoted in Matthew 21:1. Following Christ is the Apostles being led by Peter and John. John is depicted as younger and has no beard. The people of Jerusalem are spreading their garments and waving palm branches, they know the scripture from Zechariah, and are welcoming their King. On the left, the mountain with the cave is the Mount of Olives from which the procession into Jerusalem traditionally began. The city of Jerusalem can be seen in the background. At the top center we see two individuals climbing into the tree. Perhaps one of them is meant to represent Zacchaeus who climbs into the sycamore tree in Luke 19 in order to see Christ as he passes by. When Christ passes by Zacchaeus he tells him that he will be staying at his house that night.

The icon highlights the great paradox lived out by Christ, and prophesied in the Book of Isaiah. The servant, Christ, is simultaneously suffering for the sake of our sins, but lifted high and adored by kings. This icon is the apotheosis of this idea. The King of Kings prepares to open the gates to the heavenly Jerusalem in glory, by riding an ass to his death in the earthly Jerusalem.