"And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way" (Mark 11:8).

The account of the "triumphant entry" of the Lord Jesus on that first Palm Sunday is one of the few events in the life of Christ that is recorded in all four gospels. As He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt, deliberately fulfilling the ancient Messianic prophesy of Zechariah 9:9 ("Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: . . . just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon . . . the foal of an ass"), many of the common people were ready to receive Him as their promised Messiah, trying to lay a kingly carpet for Him as He rode.

Mark's account says they "spread their garments in the way: and . . . branches off the trees," and Matthew's account says essentially the same, adding that "a very great multitude" was doing this (Matthew 21:8). Luke says that "they spread their clothes in the way" (Luke 19:36).

Only John notes that the tree branches which were spread as a carpet were from the palm tree. He records that the people "Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him" (John 12:13). Hence the name Palm Sunday, the day itself being just one week before His Resurrection. All four gospels note that the multitudes called out as He rode by: "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord."

But their leaders all rebuked the people and soon were able to persuade them to call for His blood. "Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children" (Matthew 27:25).

And so it has been. The week began with such promise, only to end in rejection and hatred. So Jesus, weeping over Jerusalem, had to say: "O Jerusalem, . . . Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" (23:37,39). HMM