But could Jesus always stay in that little quiet place, where he was hid with his disciples? No. He came down to die for us. He only waited till the time came for him to die. Then he said to his disciples, We must go to Jerusalem, and I shall be laughed at, and beaten, and killed; but I shall come out of my grave after three days.
The disciples did not like to hear this; but they chose to go with Jesus wherever he went.
Jesus walked fast along the road; at last he came near Jerusalem. Then he stopped and said to his disciples, I shall ride into Jerusalem upon an ass. Jesus had no ass of his own; he always walked from place to place. But Jesus could put it into a man’s heart to lend him one.
He said to two of his disciples, Go along the road a little way, and you will see an ass and a young ass tied, and a man standing near; bring the ass and the young one to me, for I know that the man will let them come.
So the two disciples went: when they had gone a little way they saw an ass tied up, and a young one. They began to untie the ass; but a man standing near said, Why do you untie the ass?
They said, The Lord hath need of them; and then the man let them go.
I suppose that man loved the Lord Jesus, and liked to lend him his things.
The two disciples brought the two asses to Jesus. They took off some of their clothes, and put them on the young ass, and Jesus sat upon it.
A great many people came out of Jerusalem to see Jesus, for they had heard of his making Lazarus alive again. The people began to praise Jesus, and call him king. They took off some of their clothes, and laid them down upon the road for the ass to tread upon; and they picked branches off the trees that grew near, and laid them too on the road.