Read Luke 19:28-44

JESUS RIDES INTO JERUSALEM
By this time Jesus was extremely well known. Everyone coming to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival had heard of Him, and , for a time, the popular mood was favorable for Him.
The people who were praising God for giving them a king had the wrong idea about Jesus. They expected Him to be a national leader who would restore their nation to its former glory, and thus they were deaf to the words of the prophets and blind to Jesus’ real mission. When it came apparent He was not going to fulfill their hopes, many people turned against Jesus.
Christians celebrate this event on Palm Sunday. The people lined the road, praising God, waving palm branches, and throwing their cloaks in front of the colt, as it passed before them. “Long live the King” was the meaning behind their joyful shouts, because they knew that Jesus was intentionally fulfilling prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. To announce that He was indeed the Messiah, Jesus chose a time when all Israel would be gathered at Jerusalem, a place where huge crowds could see Him, and a way of proclaiming His mission that was unmistakable. The people went wild. They were sure their libertarian was at hand.
The Pharisees thought the crowd’s words were sacrilegious and blasphemous. They didn’t want someone challenging their power and authority, and they didn’t want a revolt that would bring the Roman army down on them. So they asked Jesus to keep His people quiet. But Jesus said if the people were quiet, the stones would burst into cheers. Why? Not because Jesus was setting up a powerful political kingdom, but because He was establishing God’s eternal kingdom, a reason of great celebration of all.
The Jewish leaders had rejected their King. They had gone too far. They had refused God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ when they were visited by God Himself, and soon their nation would suffer. God did not turn away from the Jewish people who obeyed Him however, and He continues to offer Salvation to the people He loves, both Jews and Gentiles. Eternal life is within your reach; accept it while the opportunity is still offered.