Jesus’s Triumphal Entry

When have you ever seen a king make his royal entrance into a town on a donkey’s colt?

Jesus’ life is marked by humility – He did not exalt Himself and rode in as a humble servant, not a royal king on a warhorse (Osborne 2014, 192). The donkey is a symbol of peace. The crowds submit to Jesus, and it is the only occasion the people accept His true identity as the Messiah. This is Jesus’ final week on earth, and He begins to reverse the Messianic secret (Osborne 2014, 189). He tolerated a brief celebration in His honor to fulfill prophecy (Zech. 9:9, English Standard Version).

The crowds begin to spread palm branches on the road, symbolic of Jewish nationalism and victory (John 11:9). Some spread their cloaks on the road. Everyone shouted, “Hosanna in the highest” (Mark 11:10), which means, please save (Ps. 118:25). It was during the Passover week celebration. They mistakenly hoped that the Messiah would liberate them from Rome’s oppression. Even though they got it wrong, and the mistaken joy of the crowd must give way to the sorrow of death before true joy could come (Osborne 2014, 189), there was no evident tension between Jesus’s Messianic identity, the disciples, and the people that day.

Mark 11:1-11 gives an overview of this triumphal entry. Still, it is in Luke’s writings that we read about an interaction between Jesus and some of the Pharisees, who asked Jesus to rebuke the disciples for shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38)! Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:37-40 emphasis added). All creation could not have kept silent at this moment in history. I love this image of the stones crying out in praise to Jesus. This is how I imagine our posture will be in heaven one day. It should be that way now as we praise Christ Jesus for what He has done and will do for us.

Jesus humbled Himself for us. He freely chose His fate – a true act of love (Osborne 2014, 189). He came in peace. We can let Jesus triumphantly enter our hearts as we shout Hosanna! His entry on a donkey instead of a warhorse shows us His love for us. All creation can praise His mighty name because He is risen – a victor over Satan, death, and sin. We are holy because He is Holy.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, emphasis added).

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

  Osborne, Grant R. Mark / Teach the Text Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, Michigan : Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2014.