Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

The event

At the start of the final week before his crucifixion, Jesus sends two disciples ahead to Bethphage, near the Mount of Olives, to bring back a young donkey that had never been ridden. Riding into Jerusalem on it rather than a warhorse, Jesus consciously enacts the prophet Zechariah's picture of Israel's king coming "humble, and mounted on a donkey" — a deliberate, public statement about what kind of king he was and wasn't.

Crowds swelling with Passover pilgrims spread cloaks and cut palm branches on the road, shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" — messianic language drawn from Psalm 118 that the religious leaders find alarming enough to demand Jesus silence his followers. Jesus refuses, and Luke adds a poignant note: as the city comes into view, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, foreseeing its coming judgment and destruction for failing to recognize "the time of your visitation."

Dating

Traditionally dated to AD 30, the Sunday before Passover; a minority of evangelical scholars place the crucifixion year in AD 33 instead, which would shift this same week accordingly. See the Crucifixion entry for the full discussion.

Scripture references

• Matthew 21:1-11
• Mark 11:1-11
• Luke 19:28-44
• John 12:12-19