The King Rides into the City

⁹ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
   Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
  Behold, your king is coming to you;
   righteous and having salvation is he,
   humble and mounted on a donkey,
   on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9

¹ Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ²saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once."⁴This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
 ⁵ "Say to the daughter of Zion,'Behold, your king is coming to you,
     humble, and mounted on a donkey,
   and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"

 ⁶The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. ⁷They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. ⁸Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" ¹⁰And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?" ¹¹And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."

Matthew 21:1-10

The King rode in on a colt, the foal of a donkey the week before His resurrection.  He was greeted with joyous proclaimers of truth as they laid down their cloaks and palms before Him.  This is Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem from the house of David, who had come to save the world.  The crowd that recognized this on this very triumphal entry would be screaming to crucify Him in 5 short days.  

Jesus rode into town as King, but a king who was a servant as well.  Jesus knew full well what was before Him in Jerusalem, and because of His great love for us, He endured the shameful cross.  This Holy Week remember the journey Jesus made and make that journey with Him by reflecting, pondering, and meditating on His passion.  The Paschal Lamb is here, and we go with Him.