Journey to the Open Tomb: Through Those Gates

The Palm Sunday route began somewhere along the Mt. of Olives, descended down a steep hill through the Garden of Gethsemane, crossed the Kidron Valley and ascended to the walls of Jerusalem. Most worshippers would have entered Jerusalem on the south side. They would have made their way up the southern steps, singing as they climbed. We know the songs they sang. Psalm 120-134 are Psalms of ascent for the pilgrim making his way up to the temple.   

On this particular day, Jesus made His way toward the walls of Jerusalem surrounded by worshippers shouting and perhaps singing, “Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord.” He was a riding a donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 which says, “Fear not daughter of Zion: behold thy King comes sitting on an ass’s colt” (John 12:15). It was a grand celebration and in all likelihood, Lazarus was there as well. Jesus was headed toward the Eastern Gate also known as the  Golden Gate. 

It was the beginning of Passover week and the population would swell as people poured into the city. Jewish-Roman historian Josephus estimated as many as 500,000 lambs would be sacrificed that week. That is a staggering amount, but the probability is the Lamb of God was surrounded by lambs. 

The Eastern gates are sealed today. The walls of Jerusalem have been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the last 2000 years. The present gates were walled up in 1187 by the Muslim conqueror Sultan Saladin and rebuilt by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1541. Tradition says that they were closed to keep the Jewish Messiah from entering them. 

The good news is that our Messiah has already entered through those gates. He did it on or about the “10th of Nisan,” April 6th, A.D. 32. That was Palm Sunday that year. And when the Messiah returns, brick and mortar will not stop Him from entering those gates again. 

The Eastern Gate to Jerusalem