Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 12:13

"took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel." — John 12:13 (ASV)

If the former crowd came from Galilee, they would be well aware of Jesus’ works there; a number of them had probably wished for a long time that he would declare himself as the expected Messiah. They applied to him the words of Ps 118:25–26, a song customarily sung by Passover pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. These words ascribed to him a messianic title as the agent of the Lord, the coming king of Israel.