The Triumphal Entry – March 29, 2026 (120/365)

The Triumphal Entry:

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

“Hosanna!

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’

The King of Israel!”

John 12:12-13

One thing I was thinking about was, why was Christ’s riding on a donkey into Jerusalem ‘Triumphal’?

Julius Caesar’s Triumph at 46BC was triumphal. There was his army, the spoils of war, the captives, following him while he was on a chariot, complete with the slave holding a wreath so it ‘floats’ above his head, all the while whispering to his ear, ‘memento mori’, again and again and again.

Oftentimes we talk about Christ’s ultimate triumph being His crucified body raised on a cross. Why was His entry to Jerusalem ‘triumphal’?

Before the Events of Palm Sunday:

John 11: The Death of Lazarus, the Resurrection of Lazarus, The Plot To Kill Jesus, The Anointing At Bethany

Christ resurrected Lazarus. But before He did, He told Martha, that He was the Resurrection and the Life. He told her that if she believed, she would see the glory of God.

Only after He said these words did He weep, shortly before calling Lazarus forth.

And for some reason John decided to write also that not only did the Pharisees plot to kill Jesus, but, soon as word (definitely) went around that Christ raised a dead man, they plotted to kill Lazarus too.

These were probably the same Pharisees who had Jesus and the disciples for dinner, where Mary anointed His feet with spikenard, telling the offended hosts that she was preparing His body for burial.

The one point that I thought mattered in all of this was that Jesus Christ’s entire life and existence in this world was a full victory. We sing about Christ winning the victory at the cross and at the empty tomb, but I had the folks consider that Christ’s finished work was not just His death and resurrection, but also His birth before His death, and His ascension after His resurrection.

All of it served as a full victory which contributed to our salvation, our righteousness, our reconciliation, and our redemption. I tied it in with how my Mom always says that Christ said He has overcome the world – BEFORE He was crucified.

Christ was already victorious as He rode on a donkey. That’s why it was a triumphal entry.

…And in this triumph, the people were laying their jackets down, placing palms before His path, crying out, once again:

“Hosanna!

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’

The King of Israel!”

I commended our worship team and thanked God for them, because for some reason one song in their lineup was ‘This Is The Day’ by Lakewood, I believe. I pointed out that they must have been led by the Holy Spirit in coming up with that song to sing in particular today – I pointed out that the cries of the people towards Jesus were quoted from Psalm 118.

Notice verse 24.

The song of the people:

24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

27 God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.

29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 118:24-29

The people saw the resurrection of Lazarus, perhaps among other things but it’s no accident that this was part of the events that happened before Christ’s triumphal entry. As a response, they gave praises to this King, and they cried out ‘Hosanna’ – which means, ‘save us, we beg You’.

As we begin this Holy Week, let us be hopeful and excited. Let’s take time to review how Christ’s entire time with us here was one full triumph and one complete victory.

Let’s take in the goodness of God, and let us praise Him, and let us run to Him, knowing that He saves us.

Christ has won, Christ is winning.

God bless you.

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