John 12.12-15: The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. (13) So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (14) And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” (ESV)
The above verses are referred to as Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into the city of Jerusalem on the Sunday before the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. John’s Gospel account tells us that palm tree branches were laid out on the path before Jesus, and so this day is referred to as “Palm Sunday”.
Jesus had told his disciples three different times that he was going to be put to death and raised from the dead. But Luke 18.34 says that they did not know or understand the things Jesus spoke to them. Peter had previously told Jesus that this would not happen to him, and James and John asked to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand when he entered into his glory. Both of these things took place after Jesus had told them about his coming death and resurrection.
Possibly the great reception by the crowd on Sunday gave an indication to everyone that this week would be a week of triumph for Jesus. Jesus did triumph on this week, but it was a triumph carried out in a way not expected by anyone, especially the twelve disciples.
Jesus entered Jerusalem on a young donkey in accordance with the prophecy about him in Zechariah 9.9, which is partially quoted in verse 15 above. And so in fact Jesus is the coming of a King. But Jesus did not enter with an exalted style of regality associated with a king of the ancient world. As Zechariah said, he would come “humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (ESV)
But style and manner aside, Jesus did enter Jerusalem as the King of Israel. And as the crowd shouted out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”, they were quoting from a portion of Psalm 118.25-26. “Hosanna” is a Hebrew word which means, “Save now”. So the crowd was expecting that Jesus is the one to bring salvation to Israel, but their idea of what this salvation would look like and the way it would be attained was not in keeping with God’s plan of salvation brought about by Jesus. God’s plan would unfold during the remainder of the week, culminating with the crucifixion of Jesus on Friday, followed by His resurrection on Sunday.