Overview

One week before Jesus was mercilessly crucified on a Roman cross outside the walls of Jerusalem and paid the ransom for our sins, He came to Bethany to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath with at least sixteen of His friends, including Lazarus, Mary, Martha, the twelve Apostles, and Simon the leper, whom Jesus had healed. After two of His disciples secured the colt of a donkey for Him from nearby Bethphage, He set His face toward Jerusalem and rode the next two miles to the City in the midst of a great multitude of people who had come out to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. This throng merged with another mass of people who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and were streaming out of the Eastern Gate. Citing Psalm 118:25-26, the people cried out to Jesus: “Hosanna to the Son of David…Hosanna in the highest!” The Royal King was coming to them to bring salvation.

This lecture and the accompanying notes address two primary questions: (1) What are the historic details of the Triumphal Entry? and (2) What is the meaning of this significant event, then and now? The importance of Jesus’ triumphal entry is heightened by the fact that all four Gospel writers -Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – tell the moving story of Palm Sunday. Follow the Redeemer as He rides His donkey over garments and palm branches to meet the hatred and jealous bitterness of the Roman and religious authorities.

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