The King and the Colt

Easter season is a time when we pause to remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this season, we are brought back to the cross of Calvary, where our Savior, because of his great love for us, endured humiliation, rejection, and unimaginable suffering to atone for the sins of the world. Fortunately, we do not stop at the cross. We rejoice in the truth that Jesus did not remain in the grave. He rose in victory, and today He is alive, seated at the right hand of the Father.

Today is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of what we often call Holy Week. It is the path that leads us into the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, concluding at the cross and the empty tomb. Today, we turn our attention to one of the few events recorded in all four Gospel accounts: the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. While each Gospel writer presents the story with slight variations, together they provide a picture of what took place on that extraordinary day.

Jesus is preparing for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Up until this point in His ministry, Jesus had often instructed people not to publicly declare who He was. There was a sense of restraint that directed His actions. But here, everything changes. This is the moment when Jesus openly receives the people's praise and unmistakably identifies Himself as the Messiah.

The journey begins near Bethpage and Bethany, small villages located just east of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. This was familiar territory for Jesus and His disciples. Jerusalem is overcrowded with people who have come to celebrate Passover. Pilgrims from all over the region, and beyond, have gathered. According to the historian Josephus, the population during Passover reached into the millions at times. Whether or not that number was typical, one thing is certain: the city was crowded and ready to celebrate Passover.

John’s Gospel tells us that a great crowd was following Jesus. Many of these followers had heard of His miracles. Some had witnessed them firsthand. Others had heard that Lazarus had been raised from the dead.

As Jesus draws near to the Mount of Olives, He does something that may seem unusual at first. He sends two of His disciples ahead into a nearby village with specific instructions. They are to find a colt, a young donkey that has never been ridden, and bring it back to Him. If anyone questions them, they are simply to say, “The Lord needs it.”

Matthew tells us that this took place to fulfill the words of the prophet Zechariah 9:9:
“Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
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.”

These words of Zechariah have meaning. The people of Israel had long awaited their King, the Messiah, who would come to deliver them. Zechariah’s words painted a picture of a King who would be righteous and victorious, but also gentle and humble.

This is where expectations begin to collide with reality.

In ancient times, kings would often ride into cities on war horses after a military victory. A war horse symbolized power, dominance, and conquest. If Jesus had wanted to present Himself as a political or military leader, He could have done so. But He didn’t.

Instead, He chose a donkey.

Not just any donkey; a colt that had never been ridden. A symbol of purity. A symbol of peace. A symbol of humility.

Jesus was making a statement without saying a word.

He is King, but not the kind of king they were expecting.

As Jesus begins His descent into Jerusalem, the crowd responds with great enthusiasm. People begin to shout, “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 translations use the word “Hosanna” to describe Jesus. The word comes from a Hebrew expression meaning, “Save us, please!” It is a cry for deliverance and a declaration of praise. It acknowledges authority. It recognizes kingship.

The words the crowd is shouting come directly from Psalm 118, part of a collection known as the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113–118). These psalms were traditionally sung during Passover to remember God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. It is very likely that Jesus and His disciples had sung these very words just days later at the conclusion of the Last Supper.

Now, those same words are being shouted in the streets.

The people are celebrating deliverance, but they are thinking in terms of political freedom. They are longing for liberation from Roman oppression. They are hoping that Jesus is about to lead a revolution, overthrow their enemies, and restore Israel to power.

As the crowd continues to grow, people begin laying their cloaks on the road before Him. Others cut palm branches and spread them along His path. This act was a gesture of honor, submission, and recognition of royalty.

Palm branches, in particular, carried powerful meaning. They were symbols of victory and triumph. They had historical significance as well. About 200 years earlier, Judas Maccabaeus had entered Jerusalem after defeating pagan forces, and he was welcomed with palm branches as a conquering hero. That memory was still fresh in people's minds.

So, when they waved palm branches for Jesus, they were not just celebrating; they were making a statement.

They were declaring Him King.

But again, their understanding of that kingship was incomplete.

They saw Jesus as the one who would change their circumstances. They wanted immediate relief. Immediate victory. Immediate transformation of their situation.

What they did not yet understand was that Jesus came to do something far greater than overthrow Rome.

He came to conquer sin.
He came to defeat death.
He came to establish a kingdom not of this world, but one that would last forever.

Luke’s Gospel gives us another important detail. As the crowd praises Jesus, some of the Pharisees approach Him and demand that He rebuke His disciples. They understand what is happening. They understood what the crowd was saying. This is not just excitement; this is a declaration that Jesus is the Messiah.

And they want it stopped. Luke 19:39 says, “But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, ‘Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!’”

But Jesus responds in a way that leaves no room for misunderstanding: “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” In other words, this moment cannot be silenced. This is creation itself recognizing its King.

The Pharisees fail to see it. The crowd only partially understands it. But the truth remains, Jesus is exactly who He claims to be.

And He is worthy of praise.

Application
As we reflect on Palm Sunday, we are confronted with both celebration and reality.
Because we know what comes next.

The same crowd that shouts “Hosanna!” will soon cry out, “Crucify Him!”

The same voices that praise Him as King will reject Him when He does not meet their expectations.

It is easy to stand in a crowd and praise Jesus when everything feels right. When the atmosphere is uplifting. When others around us are doing the same. When life seems to align with our hopes and desires.

But what happens when it doesn’t?
What happens when Jesus doesn’t meet our expectations?
What happens when life becomes difficult, confusing, or painful?

The crowd on Palm Sunday teaches us something important about the human heart. It is possible to be emotionally moved without being spiritually committed. It is possible to praise Jesus in the moment without truly surrendering to Him in life.

And that leads us to a question we must each answer:
Are we in this for the duration?

Are we committed to following Jesus not just in moments of celebration, but in seasons of difficulty? Are we willing to praise Him in the good and trust Him in the bad? Are we devoted to Him not only when He meets our expectations?

True discipleship is not built on emotion. It is built on commitment.

Palm Sunday invites us to examine our hearts. It calls us to move beyond surface-level praise and into genuine surrender. It challenges us to recognize Jesus not only as Savior, but as Lord.
Because the reality is this: Jesus did not come to fit into our lives. He came to transform them.
He did not come to give us temporary relief. He came to offer eternal redemption.

So today, as we join the voices of that ancient crowd and declare, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” let us do so with a deeper understanding and a firmer commitment.

Let our praise not be temporary.
Let our faith not be conditional.
Let our devotion not be dependent on circumstances.

Instead, let us be a people who follow Jesus faithfully, through the joy of Palm Sunday, the sorrow of Good Friday, and the victory of Easter Sunday.

Praise the King, for He has come.

Praise the King, for He has died so that we might live.
 

---