John 12: 12-19 – … the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
Zechariah 9: 9 – “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
A donkey was common for kings or important people. Riding into town on a horse was often used by kings in battle. A donkey represented peace and humility.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as King of peace and humility. Knowing full well what lay ahead of Him, He rode into Jerusalem as the Lamb of God spotless and blemish free of all sin in order to die as a lamb slaughtered before the whole world for the atonement of man. Jesus knew “the appointed time” was near when He would become the sacrifice for the redemption of sin.
The people shouted waving palm branches and singing “Hosanna”. They were praising God. Most believed that Jesus was the Messiah…all but the powerful group that lingered in the crowd whispering to one another. The Sanhedrin would soon have their prey. Jesus would be crucified and that would be the end of “this problem”. Or was it?