The Triumphal Entry

The Triumphal Entry

Q: What kind of branches did the people spread on the road in front of Jesus?

• a. palm
• b. olive
• c. green

The weeklong Passover festival was about to begin, and Jews were coming to Jerusalem from the surrounding areas to remember when the Israelites were freed from being slaves and left Egypt.

Jesus entered the city riding on a donkey’s colt just as it was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9: “Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.”

Word of the miracles Jesus had done and the people he’d healed had spread through the land. People lined up along the road, waving palm branches and throwing their cloaks in the road in front of him. They called out, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!”

Many of the people thought Jesus was going to set up a kingdom on earth. They didn’t understand why he’d come to earth. In less than a week, many of these same people would turn on Jesus and shout, “Crucify him!” instead of the words of blessing they shouted on Palm Sunday.

For You

You may never turn on Jesus like the crowd did, but do you ever ignore him? Do you stand strong for Jesus every day at school or do your actions honor him one day and shame him the next? Make Jesus king of your heart every day.

Answer: a

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!”   John 12:12-13

(The Whole Story: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)