Christ was following the Jewish custom for a royal entry. The animal on which He rode was that ridden by the kings of Israel, and prophecy had foretold that thus the Messiah should come to His kingdom. No sooner was He seated upon the colt than a loud shout of triumph rent the air. The multitude hailed Him as Messiah, their King. Jesus now accepted the homage which He had never before permitted, and the disciples received this as proof that their glad hopes were to be realized by seeing Him established on the throne. The multitude were convinced that the hour of their emancipation was at hand. In imagination they saw the Roman armies driven from Jerusalem, and Israel once more an independent nation. All were happy and excited; the people vied with one another in paying Him homage. They could not display outward pomp and splendor, but they gave Him the worship of happy hearts. They were unable to present Him with costly gifts, but they spread their outer garments as a carpet in His path, and they also strewed the leafy branches of the olive and the palm in the way. They could lead the triumphal procession with no royal standards, but they cut down the spreading palm boughs, Nature's emblem of victory, and waved them aloft with loud acclamations and hosannas.

Kristus fulgte den jødiske skik ved en konges indtog. Det dyr, han red på, var det samme, som blev benyttet af Israels konger, og profetien havde forudsagt, at således skulle Messias drage ind i sit rige. Så snart han havde sat sig på føllet, genlød luften af høje jubelråb. Skaren hyldede ham som Messias, som deres konge. Nu modtog Jesus den hyldest, som han aldrig før havde tilladt dem at bringe ham, og disciplene tog dette som bevis for, at deres glade håb nu skulle virkeliggøres ved at se ham indtage sin plads på tronen. Skaren var overbevist om, at befrielsens time var ganske nær forestående. I tanken så de, hvordan de romerske hære blev fordrevet fra Jerusalem, og at Israel atter blev et uafhængigt folk. Alle var glade og begejstrede. Folk kappedes om at hylde ham. De kunne ikke fremskaffe ydre pomp og pragt, men de tilbad ham med glad sind. De var ikke i stand til at give ham kostbare gaver, men de bredte deres yderklæder ud som et tæppe på hans vej, og de strøede også løvrige grene fra oliven og palmetræerne ved vejen. De kunne ikke gå i spidsen for triumftoget med kongelige bannere, men de skar de brede palmegrene af, naturens eget billede på sejren, og svingede dem med stor jubel og høje hosiannaråb.