Traditionally, the final week of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ has been called the “Passion Week.” This week starts with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before Easter and ends seven days later with His resurrection from the dead. Besides the fact that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey was there a greater purpose for His Triumphal entry? Yes there was! Before I answer this question we need to understand some important background details.

It happened six days before Passover

The Triumphal entry happened exactly 6 days before the Passover (Jn. 12:1). This is the most important Jewish Feast which commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt (Ex.12:1-6). John informs us that many Jews went up to Jerusalem to purify themselves because the Passover Feast was nearby. Being Himself a Jew, Jesus habitually kept the Passover along with every other requirement of the Mosaic Law. So, he was expected to be there too.

It happened shortly after the resurrection of Lazarus

Furthermore, large crowds were also expected to be there because Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 12:9-11). This miracle had resulted in many Jews coming to faith in Jesus. Now that we have laid the groundwork for our discussion on the Triumphal entry, lets walk together through Mark 11:1-11 answering some questions along the way.

Why did Jesus ride an unused donkey?

The Lord instructed two of His disciples to find a donkey for Him to ride. It needed to be an unused one. Such animals were regarded as especially suitable for sacred purposes (1 Sam. 6:7). Based on the other gospels (Matt. 21:4-5; Jn. 12:14-15), we know that Jesus was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy (Zech. 9:9-10). In addition to enacting Messianic prophecy, this occasion was also reminiscent of King Solomon’s coronation (1 Kings 1:32-40). So, the people were presenting Jesus as the King of Israel! What did they do for Him?

• They made a kind of saddle for Jesus to sit on (v7)
• The crowds spread their robes on the road (v8)
• The people also spread leafy branches cut from the fields (v8)

Why were the people waving palm branches?

John specifically tells us that the people used “palm” branches (Jn. 12:13). It is important to note that this was unusual during the Passover because palm branches were associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40). So, why were they spreading out palm branches during Passover? The Jews believed that the Feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated in the Messianic kingdom (Zech. 14:16-19). So, the people were not only welcoming Jesus as the King of Israel, but they were also expecting Him to set up His kingdom!

Why were the people crying Hosanna?

As the people were spreading out palm branches on the road, they were also crying out Hosanna, which means “Save now!” This shows us that the crowds were expecting Jesus to set up the Messianic Kingdom. Mark specifically quotes from Psalm 18:26. The expression, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” was the official Jewish greeting for the Messiah in the first century Jewish context.

Although Jesus was the promised Messiah and King of the Davidic covenant (Lk. 1:31-33), the purpose of His first coming was not to set up His kingdom. The crowds sadly missed this truth. Jesus was not entering into Jerusalem as a conquering king to bring a military victory against their Roman oppressors. Instead He was entering as a suffering servant to bring a spiritual victory through His sacrificial death on the cross (Mk. 10:45). This last point brings us to the purpose of the Triumphal entry.

Jesus did not come as a conquering king to bring a military victory against Rome. He came as a suffering servant to bring a spiritual victory through His sacrificial death on the cross.

What was the purpose of Christ’s Triumphal entry?

A week before His death, Jesus humbly rode into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. Although He was the King of the Jews, who could have won a military victory for them, He chose to win a greater victory for all of humanity. Jesus knew that the people needed salvation not from Rome, but from the power of sin and the devil. If He had not come to pay their debt with His own blood and to satisfy God’s wrath, there would be no spiritual deliverance for them or the world.

Now we are in a position to see why Christ rode into Jerusalem a few days before His death. You see on the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem, the Jews were preparing for the Passover feast. Each year they would set aside a lamb from their flocks in order to sacrifice it on the Day of Atonement (our “good” Friday) to remember their deliverance from the bondage of the Egyptians. However, before making the sacrifice they would first inspect the lamb for five days to make sure it had no blemishes.

Jesus was allowing Himself to be tested

The inspection was done from the 10th to the 14th of the month of Nisan in the days leading up to the Day of Atonement which concluded the Passover Feast (Ex. 12:1-6). On the day of the Triumphal entry, the 10th Nisan, Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey. This was the very same day that the literal lambs were being set aside for inspection! So, here is the truth that we must not miss: Just as the lambs were examined from the 10th to the 14th of Nisan, the “Lamb of God” (Jn. 1:29) was allowing Himself to be tested by the Religious leaders to show them that He was without blemish.

Just as the lambs were being examined, Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God,” was allowing Himself to be tested by the Religious leaders to show them that He was without blemish.

Jesus was tested by four different groups of Jewish leaders (e.g. the priests and elders, the Pharisee and Herodians, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees). Each group tried to trap Him in some way. However, they were unsuccessful in their attempts. Therefore, as the perfect Son of God, He qualified to be the Passover Lamb who could die for our sins on the cross once and for all (Heb. 4:14-15). What a wonderful Saviour we serve!

As you go into this week remember that Jesus allowed Himself to be tested on your behalf. Where you failed to keep the Law of God, He kept it perfectly. He lived the life you could not live in order to die the death you deserved to die (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Therefore, He qualified to be your perfect sacrifice, to pay the debt for you sins so that you could be forgiven and reconciled to God by His grace through faith (Rom. 5:1-8).