to Jerusalem, went out to meet him with a welcome that showed their enthusiastic confidence that at last he would assume Messianic power and redeem Israel (John xii. 12, 13).  Jesus was now ready for a popular demonstration, for the rulers were unwilling longer to tolerate his work and his teaching.  He had never hesitated to assert his superiority to official criticism, and at length the hour had come to proclaim the full significance of his independence.  In fact it was for this that some months before he had set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem.  When, therefore, the crowd from Jerusalem appeared, Jesus took the initiative in a genuine Messianic demonstration.  He sent two of his disciples to a place near by to borrow an ass’s colt, on which he might ride into the city, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy of the “king that cometh meek, and riding upon an ass” (see Matt. xxi. 4, 5).  At this, the enthusiasm of his followers, and of those who had come to meet him, became unbounded, and without rebuke from Jesus they proceeded towards Jerusalem crying, “Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mark xi. 9, 10).  Notwithstanding the remonstrances of certain Pharisees among the multitude (Luke xix. 39), Jesus accepted the hosannas, for they served to emphasize the claim which he now wished, without reserve or ambiguity, to make in Jerusalem.  The time for reserve had passed.  The mass of the people with their leaders had shown clearly that for his truth, and himself as bearer of it, they had no liking; while the few had become attached to him sufficiently to warrant the supreme test of their faith.  He could not continue longer his efforts to win the people, for both Galilee and Judea were closed to him.  Even if he had been content, without contradicting popular ideas, to work wonders and proclaim promises of coming good, he could with difficulty have continued this work, for Herod had already been regarding him with suspicion (Luke xiii. 31).  He had run his course and must measure strength with the hostile forces in Jerusalem.  For the last encounter he assumed the aggressive, and entered the city as its promised deliverer, the Prince of Peace.  The very method of his Messianic proclamation was a challenge of current Jewish ideas, for they were not looking for so meek and peaceful a leader as Zechariah had conceived; this entrance emphasized the old contradiction between Jesus and his people’s expectations.  He accepted the popular welcome with full knowledge of the transitoriness of the present enthusiasm.  As he advanced he saw in thought the fate to which the city and people were blindly hurrying, and his day of popular triumph was a day of tears (Luke xix. 41-44).  The city was stirred when the prophet of Nazareth thus entered it; but he simply went into the temple, looked about with heavy heart, and, as it was late, returned to Bethany with the twelve for the night.