“Go into the next village, and at a place where two roads cross; and there you will find an ass tied, and a colt with it.  Loose them, and bring them to me.  And if any one says to you, ‘Why do you do this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and they will let them go.”

They went to the place and found the ass and the colt, and were loosing them, when the owner said: 

“What are you doing, untying the ass?”

And they said, as Jesus had told them to say: 

“The Lord has need of it.”

Then the owner gave them the ass and the colt for the use of Jesus.  They brought them to Jesus on the Mount of Olives; and they laid some of their own clothes on the colt for a cushion, and set Jesus upon it.  Then all the disciples and a very great multitude threw their garments upon the ground for Jesus to ride upon.  Others cut down branches from the trees and laid them on the ground.  And as Jesus rode over the mountain toward Jerusalem, many walked before him waving branches of palm trees.  And they all cried together: 

[Illustration:  They threw their garments upon the ground for Jesus to ride upon]

“Hosanna to the son of David!  Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!  Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”

These things they said, because they believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed King; and they hoped that he would now set up his throne in Jerusalem.  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd, who did not believe in Jesus, said to him: 

“Master, stop your disciples!”

But Jesus said: 

“I tell you, that if these should be still, the very stones would cry out!”

And when he came into Jerusalem with all this multitude, all the city was filled with wonder.  They said:  “Who is this?”

And the multitude answered: 

“This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee!”

And Jesus went into the Temple, and looked around it; but he did not stay, because the hour was late.  He went again to Bethany, and there stayed at night with his friends.

These things took place on Sunday, the first day of the week; and that Sunday in the year is called Palm Sunday, because of the palm branches which the people carried before Jesus.

Many people heard him gladly, but the great city was deaf to his pleadings.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” he cried, “thou that killest the prophets, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

[Illustration:  The great city was deaf to his pleadings]

THE STORY OF THE BETRAYAL

At the foot of the Mount of Olives, near the path over the hill toward Bethany, there was an orchard of olive trees, called “The Garden of Gethsemane.”  The word “Gethsemane” means “oil press.”  Jesus often went to this place with his disciples, because of its quiet shade.  At this garden he stopped, and outside he left eight of his disciples, saying to them, “Sit here while I go inside and pray.”