The disciples...brought the donkey....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!" And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee." Matt. 21:6-11, ESV.
The time for privacy is over. In his triumphal entry into Jerusalem Jesus is making a public statement that He is the Messiah.
The surging crowd recognizes the moment by giving Him the red-carpet treatment as they spread branches and garments on the road for Him to ride over while shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David!" a title with unmistakable Messianic significance. "Hosanna" translated as "save, we pray thee." The people were ready for the salvational role of Jesus. But it would be much different from what they expected on this glorious day.
And where did the crowds come from? And why were they so enthusiastic? For one thing, it was the Passover season that celebrated God's deliverance of the nation from Egyptian bondage. Thus the roads teemed with people from all over the Jewish world heading for Jerusalem.
A second thing to note is that Lazarus had just been raised not far from the city. That outstanding miracle had caused widespread excitement.
But perhaps most important is the manner in which Jesus chose to enter the city. His deliberate choice fanned to white-hot flame the excitement and tension already in the air. The Gospels tell us that He entered town astride the colt of a donkey. That is interesting for a man who has just walked all the way from Galilee. Certainly He had no physical need to ride the last two miles. Furthermore, Jesus has always walked. This is the only time we find the adult Jesus riding in any of the Gospels. What He is doing is obviously deliberate.
It is guided by the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, which says that Jerusalem's "king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (NIV). Jesus is making a definite Messianic statement. The crowds do not miss the point. And neither do the Jewish leaders, but to them it is a challenge rather than something to be joyful about.