Home > Jesus is God in Mark's Gospel
This event is also mentioned in Matthew 21:7–9, Luke 19:35–38 and John 12:12–15. The multiple attestations strengthen the historicity of the event while the variations reflect each evangelist’s theological emphasis rather than contradiction.
Mark 11:7–10:
And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
Jesus does not merely receive acclaim; he orchestrates the event. By intentionally acting out this prophecy, Jesus is publicly identifying himself as the divine Messiah, not a political pretender. This is a self-revelation, not a misunderstanding by the crowd. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the crowds offer a reception usually reserved for a conquering king or a visiting deity.
"Hosanna" - this is a Hebrew petition meaning "Save us, we pray!" (from Psalm 118). In Jewish theology, final salvation is the exclusive work of YHWH. In the Psalms, the one who brings salvation is YHWH. By accepting this title and the plea for salvation without rebuke, Jesus acknowledges that He is the one capable of providing the divine deliverance the people are crying out for.
“kingdom of David” - The OT teaches that God alone is Israel’s true king (1 Sam 8:7; Ps 24). To inaugurate God’s kingdom is to exercise God’s authority.