Matthew 21:1–11; John 12:27–36

The Savior’s Triumphal Entry

The Savior made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, during which the people praised and worshipped Him with shouts of “Hosanna” (see Matthew 21:9). Jesus then taught the people about His mission to save them. This lesson includes an overview of Jesus Christ’s final week in mortality, which can help you feel a greater respect and reverence for Jesus Christ and His mission to save us.

Using Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. Students may have had an opportunity to study and discuss the lesson’s assigned scripture passages and related Come, Follow Me resources at home before discussing the scripture passages in seminary. Adapt the lesson according to previous experiences students may have had with the content. Look for opportunities to draw upon experiences students have had at home that can bless the seminary class.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to talk about a time when they needed someone else’s help to get out of a difficult situation. To see an example of this type of situation, they could watch “Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet” from time code 0:00 to 5:01. This video shows the April 2015 general conference talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Possible Learning Activities

A need for saving

Invite students to reflect on their preparation for class. They could share a personal story about a time when they needed someone else’s help, or they could share a story about someone they know.

Think about a time when you were in a difficult situation and needed someone else to help or save you.

• Why did you need help or saving?

• What might have happened if you had not received help?

• How did the experience influence your feelings toward the person who helped or saved you?

All of us need the saving power of Jesus Christ. We all make mistakes we cannot fix, experience losses we cannot recover, and face pains, persecution, tragedies, burdens, and disappointments we cannot handle alone. Reflect on your need for Jesus Christ. In your study journal, write down what you need Jesus Christ’s saving power to help you with.

In this lesson, seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to learn more about why the Savior Jesus Christ can save us from all mistakes, losses, pains, and situations we cannot fix.

Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry

Consider displaying an image of the Savior’s triumphal entry.

Prior to entering Jerusalem for the final time, Jesus asked His disciples to bring Him a donkey’s foal, also known as a colt. The disciples covered the donkey and colt with their clothes, and they set the Savior on the colt (see Matthew 21:1–7; John 12:14–15).

Read Matthew 21:8–11 and John 12:12–13, looking for how the people responded to Jesus Christ as He entered Jerusalem. As you read, imagine yourself being present.

Many people offered shouts of “Hosanna,” which is a Hebrew word “that means ‘please save us’ and is used in praise and supplication” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Hosanna,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the meaning of the people’s reaction to the Savior’s entry into Jerusalem:

Only kings and conquerors received such an extraordinary token of respect as this. … Amid shouts of praise and pleas for salvation and deliverance, we see the disciples strewing our Lord’s course with palm branches in token of victory and triumph. This whole dramatic scene prefigures that yet future assembly when “a great multitude” … shall stand “before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands,” crying with a loud voice, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9–10.)

(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary [1965], 1:578)

• What might you have said, done, and felt if you had been present during the Savior’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem? Why?

• When have you felt like shouting “Hosanna” (offering sincere praise and gratitude) for Jesus Christ?

• Why might you shout “Hosanna” for the Savior now? In the future?

As appropriate, discuss with students when they may have participated in a Hosanna Shout. For example, they may have participated in one as part of a temple dedication.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, many people recognized this as a public declaration that He was not only the promised Messiah but also the promised King of Israel. Many saw it as a fulfillment of scriptural prophecies such as the one recorded in Zechariah 9:9.

Many thought the Messiah would be a great military leader who would save them from Roman oppression. They misunderstood the Savior’s saving mission.

• What did Heavenly Father send Jesus Christ to save us from?

The Savior’s purpose and mission

After the Savior’s triumphal entry, “certain Greeks” who had come to Jerusalem to observe the Passover requested to visit with Him (see John 12:20–21). When Jesus learned of their request, He taught about His approaching suffering, death, and Resurrection. He explained that these final events in Jerusalem, including His imminent Crucifixion, were the entire purpose for His coming to earth (see John 12:23–33).

Read John 12:27–28, 32–33, and look for what Jesus said His purpose and mission are. (Note that the voice speaking from heaven is Heavenly Father’s voice expressing confidence that Jesus Christ would complete His Atonement.)

• What did Jesus teach about His purpose and mission?

• How can Heavenly Father’s confidence in Jesus Christ increase your confidence in the Savior’s ability and willingness to save you?

One way to summarize what the Savior taught in John 12:27–28, 32–33 is that Jesus Christ carried out His Atonement so that He can draw all of us unto Him.

The Savior testified of this same truth in 3 Nephi 27:13–15. Read this passage, looking for what these verses add to your understanding of this truth. You might want to cross-reference or link this passage to John 12:32.

An overview of the events of the Savior’s last week

Several events in the final week of the Savior’s mortal life were essential to His mission and purpose to save us by drawing us to Him.

The following infographic can help you better understand these events.

Provide students with a copy of the infographic, or display it now.

Depending on students’ needs, it may be helpful to use some of the ideas located in the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section of this lesson in addition to or in place of the infographic.

Look over the infographic. Read some of the scripture passages to become more familiar with the events described. Think about how the events contributed to Jesus Christ’s saving mission, and ponder how He can help and save you because of what He taught and did during this week.

In your study journal, write down questions that you have about these events and make note of which events you want to learn more about and why.

• What questions do you have about any of these events?

• Which do you want to learn more about? Why?

• How do you think learning more about these events can help you better understand Jesus Christ’s ability and desire to save us?

Invite students to share their answers to the preceding questions. Write down the comments they share, and look for ways to use these comments to guide the class in future lessons.

Commentary and Background Information

What did the triumphal entry mean for the Jews, and what can it mean for us?

The Savior’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, during the observance of the Feast of the Passover, directly fulfilled the prophecy recorded in Zechariah 9:9–10 and publicly declared that Jesus was the promised Messiah and King of Israel. In ancient times, the ass, or donkey, was a symbol of Jewish royalty. During the time of the monarchy in ancient Israel, following the enthronement of King Saul, the Jews held annual reenthronement rituals that featured a king riding into Jerusalem upon a donkey. The rider approached Jerusalem from east of the city and came to the temple. These rituals foreshadowed the time when the Messiah would come to His people in this same way. Thus, at a time when Jerusalem was filled with Jews celebrating Passover, Jesus entered Jerusalem in a manner that demonstrated He was the Messiah, the King of Israel. Riding on a donkey also showed that Jesus came as a peaceful and “lowly” Savior, not as a conqueror upon a warhorse (see Zechariah 9:9–10).

At the Second Coming, Jesus will return to earth in great power and glory. As a symbol of His glory, He will come on a “white horse” rather than on the donkey that He rode into Jerusalem (see Revelation 19:11–16). He will also come to reign as “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Revelation 17:14; see also Revelation 19:16).

What can we learn from the use of palm leaves in the triumphal entry?

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Traditionally, palms are a sacred symbol to express joy in our Lord, as in Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, where “much people … took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him” [John 12:12–13; see also Matthew 21:8–9; Mark 11:8–10]. … In the book of Revelation, those who praise God and the Lamb do so “clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” [Revelation 7:9]. Along with “robes of righteousness” and “crowns of glory,” palms are included in the Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer [see Doctrine and Covenants 109:76]. …

(Gerrit W. Gong, “Hosanna and Hallelujah—The Living Jesus Christ: The Heart of Restoration and Easter,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 53)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Easter.ComeuntoChrist.org activity

Invite students to use the scriptures and the materials found at Easter.ComeuntoChrist.org to search for answers to their questions or to research an event in the last week of Jesus Christ’s mortal life that they want to know more about. Invite them to describe what this event teaches them about Jesus Christ and how it contributed to His mission to save us.

Another option would be to watch one or more of the following videos depicting several of the final events in the Savior’s mortal life:

• “To This End Was I Born” (from time code 2:13 to 4:29)

• “My Kingdom Is Not of This World” (5:23)

• “For God So Loved the World” (from time code 1:56 to 4:48)

Virtual tour of Jerusalem

Brigham Young University has created an app that allows people to take virtual tours of the city of Jerusalem and see sites as they may have appeared in the Savior’s time. Consider allowing students to download the app and use it in place of the infographic in this lesson. This app could also be used in other lessons to help students visualize events in ancient Jerusalem and develop a better understanding of them. Instructions for downloading the app can be found at https://virtualscriptures.org/virtual-new-testament/.

Picture activity

Display the following pictures out of chronological order, and invite students to use the scriptures and the infographic to help them order the pictures chronologically. Then invite students to answer the final three questions in the lesson.