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Jesus was welcomed to Jerusalem in a display of messianic fervor by a tumultuous crowd (vv.12-13). Palm branches had become a national symbol, and the quotation from Ps 118:25-26 had messianic significance. Hosanna transliterates the Hebrew for the exclamation “Save!” or “Give victory!” with which Israel used to thank God for success in war; it had become an expression of praise. The next sentence was used as a welcome home for a successful warlord. In this case the acclaimed hero was acknowledged to be the King of Israel, a messianic interpretation of the psalm. Jesus' peaceful intentions were demonstrated by his choice of a donkey rather than a horse for a mount and underscored in John by the quotation from Zec 9:9 (vv.14-15). The use of this passage was the result of reflection by the post-Easter church (v.16; cf. 2:22; Mt 21:5). The influences of the miracle of resurrection in Bethany and of the hostility of the Pharisees were potent even yet (vv.17-19).