Triumphal entry

Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, and what did the Triumphal Entry reveal about who he truly is? In this Luke 19:28–48 devotional, we see Jesus enter Jerusalem as the promised Messiah and King, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. The crowds praise him, declaring, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” Yet many misunderstood the kind of King Jesus came to be. They were looking for political deliverance, but Jesus was preparing to accomplish something far greater - salvation from sin through the cross.

As we follow Jesus into Jerusalem, we see him grieve over the city, cleanse the temple, confront corrupt religious practices, and demonstrate his authority. Each moment moves the story closer to the cross and reveals God’s plan to rescue humanity through Jesus. 

After what we now call the Triumphal Entry, Jesus spent Sunday evening in Bethany, a small town just outside of Jerusalem. On Monday morning, he returned to Jerusalem and went straight to the temple.