94. Jesus’ hour had come.

Jesus’ hour had come.

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 94

Ave Maria series

94  Did Jesus know that he would die when he entered Jerusalem?

Yes.  Three times Jesus had predicted his suffering and death before consciously and voluntarily (Luke 9:51) going to the place of his Passion and his resurrection.  [557-560, 569-570]

Christ Carrying the Cross as portrayed by El Greco, 1580. ....94

And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes.  Mark 8:31

[He said to them,] “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”  Mark 9:31b

 [557-560, 569-570]

Jesus' ascent to Jerusalem

557 "When the days drew near for him to be taken up [Jesus] set his face to go to Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51; compare John 13:1.)³⁰⁴ By this decision he indicated that he was going up to Jerusalem prepared to die there. Three times he had announced his Passion and Resurrection; now, heading toward Jerusalem, Jesus says: "It cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem." (Luke 13:33; compare Mark 8:31-33; Mk 9:31-32; Mk 10:32-34.)³⁰⁵  –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

558 Jesus recalls the martyrdom of the prophets who had been put to death in Jerusalem. Nevertheless he persists in calling Jerusalem to gather around him: "How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" (Matthew 23:37.)³⁰⁶ When Jerusalem comes into view he weeps over her and expresses once again his heart's desire: "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes." (Luke 19:41-42.)³⁰⁷  –CCC

Jesus' messianic entrance into Jerusalem

559 How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of "his father David". (Luke 1:32; compare Matthew 21:1-11; John 6:15.)³⁰⁸ Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means "Save!" or "Give salvation!"), the "King of glory" enters his City "riding on an ass".(Psalm 24:7-10; Zechariah 9:9.)³⁰⁹ Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth. (Compare John 18:37.)³¹⁰ And so the subjects of his kingdom on that day are children and God's poor, who acclaim him as had the angels when they announced him to the shepherds. (Compare Matthew 21:15-16; compare Psalm 8:3; Luke 19:38; Luke 2:14.)³¹¹ Their acclamation, "Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord", (Compare Psalm 118:26)³¹² is taken up by the Church in the "Sanctus" of the Eucharistic liturgy that introduces the memorial of the Lord's Passover. --CCC

560 Jesus' entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of his Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church's liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week.

IN BRIEF

569 Jesus went up to Jerusalem voluntarily, knowing well that there he would die a violent death because of the opposition of sinners (compare Hebrews 12:3). –CCC

570 Jesus' entry into Jerusalem manifests the coming of the kingdom that the Messiah-King, welcomed into his city by children and the humble of heart, is going to accomplish by the Passover of his Death and Resurrection. --CCC