The Last Time Jesus Goes into Jerusalem ^(A)

21 They were near Jerusalem and had come to the town of Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two followers on ahead. ² He said to them, “Go to the town over there. You will find a donkey tied and her young with her. Let them loose and bring them to Me. ³ If anyone says something to you, say, ‘The Lord needs them.’ He will send them at once.”

⁴ It happened as the early preacher said it would happen, saying, ⁵ “Say to the people in Jerusalem, ‘See! Your King is coming to you. He is gentle. He is riding on a young donkey.’” ^(B)

⁶ The followers went and did as Jesus told them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and her young one. They put their clothes on the donkey and Jesus sat on them. ⁸ Many people put their coats down on the road. Other people cut branches from the trees and put them along the way. ⁹ The people who went in front and those who followed Jesus called out, “Greatest One! The Son of David! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Greatest One in the highest heaven.”

¹⁰ When Jesus came into Jerusalem, all the people of the city were troubled. They said, “Who is this?” ¹¹ Many people said, “This is Jesus, the One Who speaks for God from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee.”

The Last Time Jesus Goes to Jerusalem ^(A)

11 Jesus and His followers were near Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives. They were in the towns of Bethphage and Bethany. Jesus sent two of His followers on ahead. ² He said to them, “Go into the town over there. As soon as you get there, you will find a young donkey tied. No man has ever sat on it. Let the donkey loose and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing that?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it. He will send it back again soon.’”

⁴ The two followers went on their way. They found the young donkey tied by the door where two streets crossed. They took the rope off its neck. ⁵ Some men were standing there. They said to the two followers, “Why are you taking the rope off that young donkey?” ⁶ The two followers told them what Jesus had said and the men let them take the donkey. ⁷ They brought it to Jesus and put their coats over it. Jesus sat on the donkey. ⁸ Many people put their clothes down on the road. Others cut branches off the trees and put them down on the road. ⁹ Those who went in front and those who followed spoke with loud voices, “Greatest One! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Great is the coming holy nation of our father David. It will come in the name of the Lord, Greatest One in the highest heaven.”

¹¹ Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the house of God. He looked around at everything. Then He went with the twelve followers to the town of Bethany because it was late.

The Last Time Jesus Goes into Jerusalem ^(A)

²⁹ When Jesus was coming near the towns of Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His followers on ahead. ³⁰ He said, “Go into the town ahead of you. There you will find a young donkey tied. No man has ever sat on it. Let it loose and bring it to Me. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you letting it loose?’ say to him, ‘Because the Lord needs it.’”

³² Those who were sent found everything as Jesus had told them. ³³ As they were letting the young donkey loose, the owners said to them, “Why are you letting the young donkey loose?” ³⁴ They answered, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ Then they brought it to Jesus. They put their coats on the donkey and they put Jesus on it.

³⁶ As Jesus was going, they put their coats down on the road. ³⁷ Jesus was near the city and ready to go down the Mount of Olives. The many people who were following Him began to sing with loud voices and give thanks for all the powerful works they had seen. ³⁸ They said, “Great and honored is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord. There is peace and greatness in the highest heaven.”

³⁹ Some of the proud religious law-keepers who were in among the people said to Jesus, “Teacher, speak sharp words to Your followers.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to them, “I tell you that if these did not speak, the very stones would call out.”

Jesus Cried as He Saw Jerusalem

⁴¹ When Jesus came near the city, He cried as He saw it. ⁴² He said, “If you had only known on this great day the things that make peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ The time is coming when those who hate you will dig earth and throw it up around you making a wall. They will shut you in from every side. ⁴⁴ They will destroy you and your children with you. There will not be one stone on another. It is because you did not know when God visited you.”