The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday because on that day when Jesus was coming to Jerusalem people took palm branches and went out of the city to meet Him (John 12:12-19). They cried out, quoting from Psalm 118:25-26, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!” It is not a full quotation of those two verses, and they added the words, “the King of Israel.” This strongly suggests that the people believed they were welcoming Jesus as their King, their Messiah.
Then Jesus, in fulfillment of Scripture, found a young donkey and sat on it. At this point in the account John adds, “as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” (See Zechariah 9:9) Jesus was clearly presenting Himself as Israel’s King! But by riding a donkey, rather than a horse, He came not as a conquering warrior to deliver the people from Rome. They expected their Messiah-King to save them from their enemies. There is perhaps a touch of irony in the first word the people cried out, “Hosanna!” which means “Save now!” or “Save please!” Jesus was coming to Jerusalem not to save His people from the Romans, but from their sins!