John 12:12-19
Expanded Bible
Jesus Enters Jerusalem(A)
12 The next day a great crowd who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast [C the annual festival celebrating God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12; John 2:13] heard that Jesus was coming there. 13 So they took branches of palm trees [C a symbol of the nation of Israel] and went out to meet Jesus, shouting,
“·Praise God [L Hosanna; C an Aramaic cry to God for salvation, which became a shout of praise]!
·God bless [L Blessed is] the One who comes in the name of the Lord [Ps. 118:25–26]!
·God bless [L Blessed is] the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a ·colt [young donkey] and sat on it. ·This was as the Scripture says [L As it is written],
15 “Don’t be afraid, ·people of Jerusalem [L Daughter of Zion; C a term of endearment for the people of Jerusalem]!
Your king is coming,
sitting on the colt of a donkey [Zech. 9:9; C riding a donkey rather than a warhorse, perhaps signaling that he was a different sort of king than their nationalist expectations anticipated].”
16 The ·followers [disciples] of Jesus did not understand this at first. But after Jesus was ·raised to glory [L glorified], they remembered that this had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
People Tell About Jesus
17 There had been ·many people [a crowd] with Jesus when he raised Lazarus from the dead and told him to come out of the tomb. Now they were ·telling others [testifying; witnessing] about what Jesus did. 18 ·Many people [A crowd] went out to meet Jesus, because they had heard ·about this miracle [L that he had done this sign]. 19 So the Pharisees said to each other, “You can see that ·nothing is going right for us [we are getting nowhere; L you are gaining nothing]. Look! The whole world ·is following [has gone after] him.”
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Matthew 21:1-9
Expanded Bible
Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a King(A)
21 As Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] ·were coming closer to [approached] Jerusalem, they ·stopped at [L came to] Bethphage ·at [or on] the Mount of Olives. From there Jesus sent two of his ·followers [disciples] 2 and said to them, “Go to the town ·you can see there [ahead of you; or opposite you]. When you enter it, you will ·quickly [immediately] find a donkey tied there with its colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks you ·why you are taking the donkeys [L anything], say that ·the Master [the Lord; or its Owner] needs them, and ·he will send them at once [or the Lord will return it soon; see Mark 11:3].”
4 This was to ·bring about [fulfill] what ·the prophet had said [L had been spoken through the prophet]:
5 “Tell ·the people of Jerusalem [L the daughter of Zion; C a metaphor for Israel],
‘[L Look; T Behold,] Your king is coming to you.
He is ·gentle [humble] and ·riding [mounted] on a donkey,
on the colt of a donkey [Is. 62:11; Zech. 9:9].’”
6 [So] The ·followers [disciples] went and did what Jesus ·told them to do [instructed; commanded]. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to Jesus and laid their ·coats [cloaks] on them, ·and Jesus sat on them. 8 ·Many people [A very large crowd; or Most of the crowd] spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The ·people [crowds] were walking ahead of Jesus and ·behind [following] him, shouting,
“·Praise [L Hosanna! C a Hebrew word originally used in praying for help, but by this time a joyful shout of praise to God] to the Son of David [C a title for the Messiah]!
·God bless [Blessed is] the One who comes in the name of the Lord [Ps. 118:26]!
·Praise to God in heaven [L Hosanna in the highest; C either “in highest heaven” or “to the Most High God”]!”
Mark 11:1-10
Expanded Bible
Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a King(A)
11 As Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] were coming closer to Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. From there Jesus sent two of his ·followers [disciples] 2 and said to them, “Go to the town ·you can see there [ahead of you; or opposite you C either Bethphage, Bethany, or another village]. When you enter it, you will ·quickly [immediately] find a ·colt [young donkey] tied, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me. 3 If anyone asks you why you are doing this, tell him ·its Master [the Lord; or its Owner] needs the colt and ·he will send it at once [or he will return it soon; C “he” could be either Jesus or the colt’s owner].”
4 They went into the town, found a colt tied in the street near the door of a house, and untied it. 5 Some people were standing there and asked, “What are you doing? Why are you untying that colt?” 6 They answered the way Jesus told them to answer, and the people let them take the colt.
7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and Jesus sat on it [Zech. 9:9]. 8 Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut [leafy] branches in the fields and spread them on the road. 9 The people were walking ahead of Jesus and behind him, shouting,
“·Praise God! [L Hosanna! C A Hebrew word originally used in praying for help, but by this time a joyful shout of praise to God.]
·God bless [Blessed is] the One who comes in the name of the Lord [Ps. 118:26]!
10 ·God bless [Blessed is] the coming kingdom of our father David!
·Praise to God in heaven [L Hosanna in the highest]!”
Luke 19:28-40
Expanded Bible
Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a King(A)
28 After Jesus said this, he went on [L ahead, going up] toward Jerusalem. 29 As Jesus came near Bethphage and Bethany, towns near the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent out two of his ·followers [disciples]. 30 He said, “Go to the town ·you can see there [ahead of you; or opposite you; C unclear whether Bethphage or Bethany]. When you enter it, you will find a ·colt [young donkey] tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me. 31 If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say that ·the Master [the Lord; or its Owner] needs it.”
32 The two ·followers [L who were sent] went into town and found ·the colt [or the situation] just as Jesus had told them. 33 As they were untying it, its ·owners [masters] came out and asked the followers, “Why are you untying our ·colt [young donkey]?”
34 The followers answered, “·The Master [The Lord; Its Owner] needs it.” 35 So they brought it to Jesus, threw their ·coats [garments] on the ·colt’s [young donkey’s] back, and put Jesus on it. 36 As Jesus rode toward Jerusalem, others spread their coats on the ·road [path; way] before him.
37 As he was coming close to Jerusalem, on the way down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of ·followers [disciples] began joyfully shouting praise to God for all the ·miracles [mighty works] they had seen. 38 They said,
“·God bless [Blessed is] the king who comes in the name of the Lord [Ps. 118:26]!
·There is peace [or May there be peace; L Peace] in heaven and glory ·to God [L in the highest; C either “in highest heaven” or “to the Most High God”]!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, ·tell your followers not to say these things [L rebuke your disciples].”
40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if ·my followers didn’t say these things [L they remained silent], then the stones would ·cry out [start shouting].”
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