John 12:12 “On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
The authorities were trying to find Him, to assassinate Him. So, our King and Savoir came riding into the city in plain view on a “young ass” (John 12:14). But, they would have to take and assassinate him right in front of a great host of the people that adored and worshiped Him. Many historians and commentators write of “branches of palm trees” being used to greet victorious kings and commanders and armies as they returned home from some great war or battle abroad. So, all knew that Jesus Christ was being heralded as the Conquering King that was victorious over His enemies. The Jewish authorities knew what this meant and were even further incensed at Him. There was a prophetic scene approximately fifteen hundred years earlier when the Children of Israel, while still in the wilderness, were told to “take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days” (Leviticus 23:40). And, there is that great and magnificent victorious scene that John saw in Heaven: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” (Revelation 7:9). I’m sure that, at this point, the worshipers knew little more than that the long-anticipated Messiah had come; they would learn more about Him shortly. Now we know that He alone obtained the full and final victory over sin, death, the grave, and the wicked government. He obtained victory over sin when He declared on the Cross “It is finished” (John 19:30). He obtained victory over death and the grave when He rose from the dead and came forth from the grave and ascended into Heaven (I Corinthians 15; Acts 1). He obtained victory over the wicked government when it was utterly destroyed in 70AD (Matthew 24:2). Now we meet weekly on the Lord’s Day, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25) to worship our Conquering King; Who still defeats wicked governments!