“And they brought the colt to Jesus and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him” (Mk 11:7) On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophesy of Zech 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon the foal of a donkey.” A huge crowd cheered as Jesus rode the two miles from Bethany to Jerusalem.
They lined His path with palm branches, some with their garments.
Jesus was getting the red carpet treatment from the people who proclaimed Him as King and Messiah.
Jesus accepted their praise, even telling the Pharisees who complained that if the people withheld their worship, the rocks would cry out with praise. But these people who shouted “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday would soon shout “Crucify Him” on Good Friday.
He wasn’t the Jesus they expected--or wanted.
They thought He came to deliver them from Rome.
But Jesus came to deliver them from sin. They thought Palm Sunday would be Rome’s defeat, but Jesus did nothing to overthrow Rome. He came to overthrow sin. So the disillusioned people decided, “Away with Him. We have no king but Caesar” (Jn 19:15).
Jesus is the King. He came to defeat sin in our lives and set us free spiritually. He has rode into your town to do just that.
So follow Him and keep on shouting Hosanna.
