Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-19
"Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!" The growing crowd following Jesus surged as He approached Jerusalem mingling with those in the city hearing of His arrival. Jesus would at last accept the adulation of the crowd as their King...fulfilling all scripture. Laying palm branches and clothing ahead of Jesus as He rode on the colt of a donkey, the people shouted and praised Him, hailing Him as the Messiah. The Jewish leaders, incensed at hearing this called to Jesus to rebuke His worshippers but Jesus denied them knowing it would be a futile effort, even if they were to stop the stones would raise their voices in praise this day as this was the moment long waited for, the formal presentation of the Messiah to Israel, the savior God had promised. Jesus will now spend the last week of His life in and around Jerusalem, the first part of the week He will demonstrate His office by cleansing the temple and confronting the Jewish nation's religious leadership. The second part of the week He retires with His disciples and friends sharing further information about His death, their responsibilities, and the future of the Jewish nation. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna to the King!
