The Defiant King

How did the crowd know that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. - John 12:12-16

John doesn't tell us how they knew.  But he does say that the crowd had heard that Jesus had gone to Bethany to see Lazarus, Mary and Martha.

So, word spreads about Jesus.

People hear about where he has gone and they rush to be near him, to see him, or to kill him.

In John's version of the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem, Jesus finds a donkey and rides on it.

The version we are more accustomed to hearing is Mark's version where the disciples go and borrow a donkey from a man who appears to have some knowledge of Jesus, either as a friend or a follower.

Word would spread quickly then that Jesus was planning on riding into the city like a king, only on a donkey rather than a horse.

At the very least, they would be curious.

Out of respect for royalty and admiration, they spread palm branches before him.

This would have angered the Romans and Herod, and the people would have known that, so it was an act of defiance as well.

Somehow, Jesus must have arranged this ahead of time, even though John makes it seem spontaneous to find a donkey's colt and ride it into the city.

But even if it was, at that moment, Jesus would have understood how it would be perceived.

It appears, then, that Jesus wanted to send a message to Herod.  Here I am.  This is where I belong.

More to come...