August 23

The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” — Mark 11:9 BSB

On that day, Jesus was the people’s hero.

Did He think that this was the moment they would finally accept Him as their Messiah? No—He knew that this outburst of praise was temporary, and that this triumphal procession was merely the beginning of His final journey to the cross.

As He listened to the crowd shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” He heard a deeper message:

“Ride on, ride on in majesty,
In lowly pomp ride on to die.”

The triumphal entry was Jesus’ final public declaration of His Messiahship. He fulfilled ancient prophecy, clearly showing that He was the King who had been foretold.

This moment also reminds us of the fickleness of human enthusiasm.

Just five days later, Jesus would be led in another procession—this time, to His crucifixion. In a painting by Tintoretto, after the Crucifixion, the crosses stand empty, the crowds have gone, and in the background, a donkey is nibbling on withered palm leaves.