Why Did the People Welcome Jesus to Jerusalem at Palm Sunday?

When Jesus Christ was condemned and crucified, many of the people who jeered, mocked, and called for His execution were the same people who, one week earlier, had been celebrating His arrival at Jerusalem. The Gospels record that by the time Jesus was in His third year of ministry and going to Jerusalem for Passover, the crowds gathered, declaring Him the Son of David, and were so excited for His arrival.

It can seem contradictory or confusing when reading the Bible as to how people made this quick turn. People are sinners, and we know it was God’s will for Jesus to die on the cross. If people did not like Him, why did they welcome Him at first? When looking at this moment leading up to Passover and the crucifixion through the lens of history and Messianic prophecy, it becomes clear that many identified Jesus as their Messiah, but were disappointed that He did not come to push the Roman Empire out of Israel and rule as His forefather King David did. They rejoiced at the arrival of their savior, but misunderstood His purpose in coming the first time.

This event is recorded in detail in all four of the Gospel. According to the account in Matthew:

“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying 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. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.’ This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Say to the daughter of Zion,                                                                                      
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their     cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And 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!’” (Matthew 21:1-9).

The people were celebrating the arrival of a man they believed fulfilled important religious prophecy, and who could usher in peace and redemption. Prior to this moment, there had been other people who came out claiming to be the Messiah, but none had ever proven themselves as much as Jesus had.

Roman Occupation and Herod

After the period of the prophets, which is last documented in the book of Malachi, there was a time known by Christians as the Period of Silence, because God stopped speaking to His people through the prophets and at the Temple. The extrabiblical books of the Maccabees does touch base on some of the events during these 400 years, mostly focusing on the invasion of Greek forces.

Toward the end of that period, a family arose called the Seleucids who took control from the Greek Ptolomies, and Rome ousted that family in favor of the Herodians, who are in power during Jesus’ life and ministry. They divided the nation into three protectorates, and Herod was the one responsible for the area of Judea and Jerusalem. Eventually he had nominal control over the whole country, although he was very submissive to Roman rule. The Jewish people resented the authority the Empire had over their nation, paying taxes to Caesar, and some even resented the money that Herod spent rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.

The Herodians were not descendants of King David, and did not have a legitimate blood claim to the throne of Israel. Several of them were also known to live lifestyles that were not in alignment with Jewish law. The second Herod to sit on the throne was married to his brother’s wife, and watched his step-daughter lasciviously dance;

“But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.’ And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given” (Matthew 14:6-9).

People grew tired of being under occupied power and the weak leaders who allowed it to continue, like Herod. As John the Baptist and Jesus conducted their ministries, people who were looking for a prophesied son of David who would rule and reign in Israel, and they began to speculate either of them could be the one.

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, the rumors of His power were flying; He just raised Lazarus from the dead. For those Jewish people who wanted Rome to be expelled out of their land, the promise of the Messiah was tempting, and some in the crowd were probably welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem because they had hopes He would drive the empire out of Israel.

The Messiah

From the first three chapters of Genesis, mankind’s evil and their need for redemption became evident. Over the course of God’s relationship with the descendants of Abraham, who He claimed as His special people, He began to reveal to them His plan to bring up a man who would redeem them and sit on the throne of David. The title this man received was Messiah, or Christ in Greek, loosely translated to deliverer.

Christians point to many verses in the Old Testament they believe affirm that Jesus is the Messiah, come to save first and then to return later to rule and reign. While practitioners of Judaism and Christianity today would not agree on certain passages Christians believe are prophetic, there are some upon which both groups agree.

At the time of Jesus’ life and ministry, just like today, there were differing ideas about what or who the Messiah was meant to be. For some people, they believed it was a general term used to refer to people who “delivered” Israel such as Cyrus the Great. Others believed in a Messianic Age, a period of time that would be the zenith of Israel’s power, and this kingdom would precede the end of days. For others, the Messiah was a person, a Son of David, who would usher in the Messianic Age. For many, they saw a man who was from the line of King David and who was performing miracles that were undeniable, as many of them were witnessed by dozens or even hundreds of witnesses. It is easy to understand why people joyfully celebrated the man they believed could bring real change.

They rejoiced because they saw a man who could bring forth a new golden age for their nation. Some may have even believed he could bring spiritual redemption as well. Christians today believe this event fulfilled a prophecy in Zechariah, “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).

For the many who only saw Him through the more political lens of defeating Rome, or the more eschatological lens of ushering in the new great age of Israel, when Jesus was arrested it was easy to turn on Him in the moment because it appeared He was just another failed Messiah.

Sources

Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Old Testament and New Testament. United States of America: Victor Books, 1987.

Wilmington, H.L. Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1981.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Azerberber

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.