The "Triumphal Entry" of Jesus into Jerusalem Likely Never Happened


The tale of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem for Passover makes no sense. Bart Ehrman has always maintained there was a Jesus and that he was in Jerusalem at Passover. But, he points out a celebrated entry with cheering crowds could not have happened if the other things commonly thought to have been that reality were there. 

Josephus and other surviving writing talked of how nervous the Romans at about the time of Passover. It celebrated Moses leading the Jews out from under what was claimed to be a suppressive Egypt. Here were the angry Jews again, this time under a repressive Rome. It's understandable the Romans in charge would be watchful for trouble.

So, does it make sense Roman soldiers would have stood by and watched a massive turnout for a leader that was labeled to be their enemy and would defeat them? Jesus arrived in Jerusalem somehow according to the rest of the story. But, as Ehrman points out, he likely did not arrive in this way. Evidence tells us he was not well known and probably walked in unnoticed.

And then there is the detail of the cheering Jews when he entered. Why then why did the reported big turnout of Jews at the cross site a few days later prefer him dead? I read today a Christian's view of why the same people changed their minds. It, along with the tales of the triumphant entry and who said what at the cross event follow no rational pattern.

There is an explanation as to why the triumphant entry tale made it into the Bible. The story tellers had a goal in mind. It was to portray this person few had ever heard of as the prophesied messiah. The hero's entrance made a good story. That even the writer who invented it thought anyone would consider it to have been an actual event is doubtful. Embellished tales were to norm of that time.

For nearly all the tales in the Bible we have to remember no one who wrote about them said he was present. There are not first hand accounts. There were plenty of people who could read and write at that time, estimates are 10% of the public. At the great events of the Bible literate people were no shows.

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