Background
Here Jesus is approaching Jerusalem ready for the annualfestival of Passover. It would be normal for pilgrims to Jerusalemto travel the way that Jesus did.
Yet as the story progresses we see that Jesus had specific plans tomake the final couple of miles not on foot but instead on a colt; adonkey. For Jesus this was no accident but was carefully planned-it is possible that arrangements with the owners had already beenmade in advance (verses 30-31). The disciples were despatched tofetch the donkey. In Zechariah 9:9 we are told "our king comes to you... humble and riding on a donkey". This act of Jesus was to beinterpreted as a messianic act, a fulfilment of the prophecy. Hewas showing to the people in a powerful and dramatic way that hewas the king, the Messiah they had been waiting for. Jesus did notenter Jerusalem quietly to avoid attention, but quite the opposite.He came not on a horse as a warrior king, but came in peace upon acolt. The disciples treated Jesus like royalty by laying theircloaks on the ground.
In Luke's Gospel there is no mention of Hosannas and palm branches(as in Matthew 21:8-9; Mark11:8-10), but the words said echo Psalm118, which was used in Jewish worship to celebrate God's plan,and also those of the angels at Jesus' birth (Luke2:14). The Pharisees in the crowd are anxious by the displaythey see in front of them. For the disciples to acknowledge Jesusas Messiah and for him to accept those claims, was blasphemous. Yetin Jesus' response we see that the time for silence has gone, Godwill not allow silence. The whole world that God created recogniseswho Jesus is as even "the stones will shout out". The Pharisees yetagain show their blindness to the unveiling events.
To Ponder
The disciples were told to fetch the colt - whatdo you think they might have been thinking? How obedient are you tothe commands of Jesus?
Are you joining the crowd and singing God'spraises whilst everyone else is? Are you still with Jesus wheneveryone else is against him?