Triumphal Entry
Overview
- Testament: New
- Book: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
- Chapters: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19
- Summary: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey to the acclaim of crowds spreading cloaks and palm branches and crying “Hosanna”; a direct fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.
Details
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem and came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead to find a donkey and her colt tied, which no one had ridden. They were to bring them; if challenged, they should say “The Lord hath need of them.” This happened, the disciples say, to fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy: “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass.” The disciples put their garments on the animals and Jesus sat on the colt.
A great multitude spread their garments in the road; others cut branches from palm trees and spread them in the way. The crowds went before and behind Jesus crying: “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred, asking “Who is this?” The multitude answered “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” Luke adds that when the Pharisees demanded Jesus silence the crowd, he replied: “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke also records Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and pronouncing its coming destruction.
Key People Involved
- Jesus Christ — The messianic king who entered
- Disciples — Who prepared and accompanied him
- Crowds — Who acclaimed him with hosannas
- Pharisees — Who objected to the acclamation
Key Places
- Jerusalem — The city entered
- Mount of Olives — The approach from the east
- Bethphage — The village from which the donkey was obtained
Important Verses
“Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” — Matthew 21:9
“Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.” — John 12:15 (quoting Zechariah 9:9)
Cross-References
- Foreshadowed in: Davidic Covenant — The promise of an eternal Davidic king
- Fulfills: Zechariah 9:9 — “thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass”
- Followed by: Last Supper
- Related books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Zechariah
Notes
The entry on a donkey’s colt deliberately contrasts with Roman triumphal processions on war horses — Jesus enters as a king of peace (Zechariah’s “meek” king). The cry “Hosanna” is a Hebrew petition meaning “Save now!” borrowed from Psalm 118:25-26, a Passover psalm sung at the Feast of Tabernacles. The crowd’s expectation was likely of political liberation; within days, many of these same voices would call for crucifixion. All four Gospels record this event, the only miracle-free event in all four — emphasizing its historical centrality.