It was Sunday—the day we now call Palm Sunday. Without a doubt, this was not Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem. As a devout Jew, Jesus would have gone to Jerusalem every year for the three great feasts (Luke 2:41-42; John 2:13, 5:1). In the past 3 years, Jesus had also ministered and taught in that great city. But His coming into Jerusalem this Sunday was radically different.

By riding a young donkey into Jerusalem at a time when thousands of worshipers were coming into the city, Jesus deliberately put Himself in the center of attention (Matthew 21:9-11). It was dangerous for him to enter Jerusalem, for there was a conspiracy to arrest and murder Him (John 11:57; Mark 14:1). But this ride into the Holy City was His “coronation” as King (Matthew 21:5), and the crowd acknowledged Him as the Davidic Messiah, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9 NIV), meaning “Save us, we pray, Son of David.”

Why would Jesus take the place of prominence before thousands of people when for the past 3 years He had deliberately kept a low profile? (John 6:15, 7:10, 11:54). Why would He accept the people’s proclamation that He was King, just 5 days before His death?

Matthew says that this took place to fulfill a 500-year-old prophecy (Matthew 21:4-5) that God’s chosen king would come into Jerusalem “righteous and victorious, yet . . . humble . . . riding on a donkey’s colt” (Zechariah 9:9; see also Genesis 49:10-11).

This was a truly unusual way for a triumphant king to enter a city. Conquering rulers normally rode on mighty stallions. But Jesus wasn’t riding a warhorse. This reveals what kind of King Jesus is. He came in meekness and lowliness. Jesus came, not for war, but to establish peace between God and us (Acts 10:36; Colossians 1:20-21).

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Kings 12:1-24