The days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday in the church calendar are called Holy Week. Holy because they are unique and set apart in all of the Christian calendar. A week because they trace the path of Jesus in the seven days from His final entrance into Jerusalem to His triumph over death in a garden outside the city.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is recorded in each of the histories of His life (Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, and John 12:12-19). On that Sunday, crowds of people were moving into Jerusalem in preparation for the Passover Feast. Crowds began assembling for ceremonial cleansing prior to the Passover (John 11:55). Everyone had Passover on their minds. The Passover with all of the historical, religious, national, and spiritual significance was joined in the minds of many in the crowd by something new: a miraculous resurrection.

Many of the gathering crowds of worshippers were looking for Jesus and His friend Lazarus. News was spreading of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (see John 11:1-44). Because of this miracle, many among the crowd were “going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him” (John 12:11). Sacrifice and resurrection were in the air. Crowds were gathering. Worshippers were primed. Enemies of Jesus were irate. It was fear of these enemies which had made His disciples question a return to Judea (John 11:16).

Jesus travelled the road from Jericho toward Jerusalem and arrived at the village of Bethphage and Bethany. Here, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is 2/3 of a mile from the city of Jerusalem.  Jesus will return to this area throughout this final week.

This day Jesus secures a colt from a resident of the village. The circumstances of this exchange seem strange to us. But to Jesus and His disciples events like this are the normal life of dependence on the Father. They were accustomed to these provisions from the Father as they have walked with Jesus over the past three years. The colt is more than convenience. It was critical to the story of this week, the story of the crowning of a king (Zechariah 9:9).

Mounted on this colt Jesus travels the final mile into the city of Jerusalem. Crowds gather with shouts of acclamation. “Hosanna!,” they shout (Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9). Hosanna is an Aramaic word meaning “Save, I pray!” Into the mix of preparation for sacrifice and the stories of resurrection comes shouts of prayer for salvation. To this prayer the crowds reach into the book of Psalms for another cry:  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:26) Read the full text of Psalm 118. It is a Psalm of thanksgiving for the people of Israel in a day of deliverance. Salvation, deliverance, and a king!

Luke 19 adds a detail about our King. Luke 19:41-44 depicts our weeping King. Jesus is the promised King. He is the one who saves! Pray to Him for salvation! But Jesus is no king like Israel or any other people group of the world have ever seen. Jesus is a weeping King! Jesus knows that many in the city will miss the salvation he will bring. Because of this, Jesus weeps. Jesus is no tyrant. He weeps for those who reject Him.

Having come into the city of Jerusalem Jesus goes the temple. In the temple Jesus does two things. He heals many in the temple area (Matthew 21:14). Jesus is a healing King. Second, Jesus looks around the temple area (Mark 11:11). Jesus is a righteous King. What does He see? We won’t learn that until Monday. Now, it is late in the day. Jesus and His disciples return to the Bethany for the night. The King will be back in Jerusalem on Monday.