Never before in His earthly life had Jesus permitted such a demonstration. He clearly foresaw the result. It would bring Him to the cross. But it was His purpose thus publicly to present Himself as the Redeemer. He desired to call attention to the sacrifice that was to crown His mission to a fallen world. While the people were assembling at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, He, the antitypical Lamb, by a voluntary act set Himself apart as an oblation. It would be needful for His church in all succeeding ages to make His death for the sins of the world a subject of deep thought and study. Every fact connected with it should be verified beyond a doubt. It was necessary, then, that the eyes of all people should now be directed to Him; the events which preceded His great sacrifice must be such as to call attention to the sacrifice itself. After such a demonstration as that attending His entry into Jerusalem, all eyes would follow His rapid progress to the final scene.

Aldrig nogensinde før havde Jesus under sit jordeliv tilladt en sådan offentlig demonstration. Han forudså tydeligt, hvad følgerne ville blive. Dette ville blive vejen til korset. Men det var hans hensigt således åbenlyst at tilkendegive sig som Frelseren. Han ville henlede opmærksomheden på det offer, der skulle blive det højeste udtryk for hans kald i en falden verden. Medens folket samledes i Jerusalem for at fejre påskefesten, viste Jesus virkeliggørelsen af lammets symbol, ved en frivillig handling i et sonoffer. Det ville i alle kommende tider være nødvendigt for hans menighed at gøre hans død for verdens synder til genstand for den dybeste eftertanke og granskning. Enhver kendsgerning, der står i forbindelse hermed, burde efterprøves, så der ikke kunne herske nogen tvivl. Derfor var det nødvendigt, at folkets øjne nu skulle rettes mod ham. De begivenheder, der gik forud for det store offer, måtte være sådan, at de vendte opmærksomheden til selve offeret. Efter en sådan demonstration som den, der ledsagede hans indtog i Jerusalem, ville alles øjne følge ham på hans hastige færd mod den endelige afslutning.