Imagine being one of the disciples walking toward Jerusalem with Jesus, and he asks you to run ahead into town and borrow a colt that you’ll find tied to a post. If anyone asks why you are borrowing the donkey, you are to tell them that the Lord needs it. So, you do as he says and fetch the colt for him.

When you realize that Jesus is about to ride the animal bareback, you take off your cloak and drape it across the colt’s back. Others do the same; many more even spread their cloaks on the ground for him. Still others take branches from trees and rushes from nearby fields to pave a pathway for him to ride across.

People start cheering for Jesus, shouting, “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38). The crowd gives a royal welcome to Jesus, the King of the Jews.

Not everyone is so happy, though. Matthew (ch. 21) reports that some are “unnerved” by the groundswell of affection toward Jesus. Luke (ch. 19) says that the Pharisees tell Jesus to get control of his disciples’ behavior. John (ch. 12) paints a picture of the Pharisees throwing up their hands in frustration.

All four gospel accounts describe this event from their own perspective. Nowadays, we commemorate this important story as Palm Sunday. It is a significant part of the gospel narrative because Jesus’ death is drawing near. We have the advantage of history to know what’s about to happen in the story, so in the days leading up to Palm Sunday, let’s focus our hearts on praising King Jesus, who was and is and is to come.