Lenten Reader | Day 26

March 19th, 2026

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Mark 11:1-11

Hosanna!

This type of entry by Roman standards would have been a parade on a mighty horse. The Jewish people expected a majestic conqueror, but Zechariah foretold the Messiah would come in a lowly, humble way riding a colt. Riding a donkey sent the message he was coming as a man of peace.

Jesus typically discouraged people from publicly celebrating him as the Messiah. Here, he went out of his way to invite public praise and adoration. He was fulfilling prophesy, He was proclaiming his kingship, and He was asserting his authority. It was a final, public appeal to Jerusalem to recognize their King before the crucifixion.

Crowds often followed him just to get something from him. They rejected any kind of personal commitment. On this day, they lavished him with attention and honor. They believed he was the promised Messiah arriving to overthrow Roman rule and establish his kingdom. They treated him as a conquering king, shouting "Hosanna!" They misunderstood his purpose for entering Jerusalem, expecting a conquering king rather than a suffering servant.

Hosanna means, “save now.” It serves both as a desperate plea for help and a joyful shout of praise. The crowd on this day was praising Him for who they wanted Him to be and not for His actual purpose.

There are times when we only look to Jesus for what he can give us or do for us. We too may fall short in making or consistently keeping a commitment to him. Do we establish daily spiritual habits like prayer and Bible study? Are we engaging in regular church fellowship and obeying his commands to love others? Consistency happens when we enter into a relationship with him rather than following a ritual.

May this Lenten season be a time to deepen our relationship with Him for who He is and to renew our hearts for authentic praise to Him and to live as He lived. Hosanna in the highest! We praise you for saving us from our sins, we acknowledge that you are Lord of all, and we bow down in loving worship at your feet.

Gwen Thomas