Companies, couples, athletes, and more all do it. When the time is right they go public with originally private information, and the public is no longer left wondering. “Ah yes, they really are a couple.” “I knew it, he was going to retire.” Going public brings clarity. It helps set the record straight.

Throughout the Gospel of Mark, there is a strange quietness about Jesus being the Messiah. On multiple occasions He tells people to keep His Messianic identity a secret. Jesus strictly ordered the unclean spirits who saw Him not to make Him known (Mark 3:11–12). Jesus raised a little girl from the dead and then strictly charged them not to tell anyone about it (Mark 5:43). Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah whereby Jesus strictly charged them not to tell anyone about Him (Mark 8:29–30).

Why all the hush? There was already an image of Messiah in the public eye. Messiah was a conquering King, a Goliath-slaying man who would trounce the nations and deliver Israel to great heights. Thus, Jesus sought to correctly rework the biblical image of Messiah in word and deed before He officially went public. And that day was Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week—the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. Historically, Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem in the following way (Mark 11:7–10).

⁷And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. ⁹And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

When Jesus rode on a donkey into Jerusalem, two important statements were made. First, Jesus publicly declared that He was Israel’s Messiah from God. Israel had been waiting years for a saving king to come to them from the line of David. And now, He is finally here! And so, they shouted “Hosanna,” which basically means “save us.” What a scene! The people lay down clothes and branches for their king and bless Him who comes in the name of the Lord—He who brings the kingdom of God.

A second important matter occurred on Palm Sunday. Jesus was fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, which states,

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

It was right for the people to rejoice—to shout aloud! Their king came to them, bringing the long awaited salvation of God. The Messiah was finally here. It was public! There was no more wonder to be had concerning Jesus. The press release was out. Let the joy pour out. Let the people bless God’s name and sing His praises. Hosanna has finally arrived!

On Palm Sunday God’s Messiah publicly rode into Jerusalem according to Scripture. What was once quiet is now declared from Jerusalem. Holy Week starts off with a celebratory bang! However, the days ahead are packed with twists and turns. But whatever happens this week—Jesus is God’s Messiah.

Discussion: Why was Israel so happy to have God’s king come to them?

Answer: They wanted deliverance from the oppression of Rome. But the king had a deeper deliverance in mind first. The rest of Holy Week will show what it was.

Application: Let us begin Holy Week by praising Jesus as the coming King and Messiah from God.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for making yourself known to Israel and to the world. We believe you are the Messiah, the saving King, who has come from God.