The Last Time Jesus Goes into Jerusalem ^(A)

21 They were near Jerusalem and had come to the town of Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two followers on ahead. ² He said to them, “Go to the town over there. You will find a donkey tied and her young with her. Let them loose and bring them to Me. ³ If anyone says something to you, say, ‘The Lord needs them.’ He will send them at once.”

⁴ It happened as the early preacher said it would happen, saying, ⁵ “Say to the people in Jerusalem, ‘See! Your King is coming to you. He is gentle. He is riding on a young donkey.’” ^(B)

⁶ The followers went and did as Jesus told them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and her young one. They put their clothes on the donkey and Jesus sat on them. ⁸ Many people put their coats down on the road. Other people cut branches from the trees and put them along the way. ⁹ The people who went in front and those who followed Jesus called out, “Greatest One! The Son of David! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Greatest One in the highest heaven.”

¹⁰ When Jesus came into Jerusalem, all the people of the city were troubled. They said, “Who is this?” ¹¹ Many people said, “This is Jesus, the One Who speaks for God from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee.”

The Last Time Jesus Goes to Jerusalem ^(A)

11 Jesus and His followers were near Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives. They were in the towns of Bethphage and Bethany. Jesus sent two of His followers on ahead. ² He said to them, “Go into the town over there. As soon as you get there, you will find a young donkey tied. No man has ever sat on it. Let the donkey loose and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing that?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it. He will send it back again soon.’”

⁴ The two followers went on their way. They found the young donkey tied by the door where two streets crossed. They took the rope off its neck. ⁵ Some men were standing there. They said to the two followers, “Why are you taking the rope off that young donkey?” ⁶ The two followers told them what Jesus had said and the men let them take the donkey. ⁷ They brought it to Jesus and put their coats over it. Jesus sat on the donkey. ⁸ Many people put their clothes down on the road. Others cut branches off the trees and put them down on the road. ⁹ Those who went in front and those who followed spoke with loud voices, “Greatest One! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Great is the coming holy nation of our father David. It will come in the name of the Lord, Greatest One in the highest heaven.”

¹¹ Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the house of God. He looked around at everything. Then He went with the twelve followers to the town of Bethany because it was late.

The Last Time Jesus Goes to Jerusalem ^(A)

¹² The next day many people were in Jerusalem for the religious gathering. They heard Jesus was coming. ¹³ They took branches of trees and went to meet Him. They spoke with a loud voice, “Greatest One! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of the Jews!” ¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. The Holy Writings say, ¹⁵ “Do not be afraid, people of Jerusalem. See! Your King comes sitting on a young donkey!” ^{(B) 16} His followers did not understand what this meant at first. When Jesus had gone back to heaven to receive great honor, they remembered these things were written about Him. They remembered they had done this to Him.

¹⁷ The people who had been with Jesus when He had called Lazarus from the grave kept telling of this powerful work to others. They had seen Lazarus raised from the dead. ¹⁸ Because of this the people went to meet Jesus. They had heard He had done this powerful work. ¹⁹ The proud religious law-keepers said among themselves, “Look, we are losing followers. Everyone is following Jesus!”