Matthew 21:6-10: in context

The disciples have brought the donkey and colt, and Jesus rides into Jerusalem as the crowds erupt. They spread their cloaks and cut branches to cover the road, and go before and behind him shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. When he enters the city, the whole place is stirred up, and the question ripples through Jerusalem: who is this?

The question the city asks is the one that matters: who is this? Jerusalem is thrown into commotion by the arrival of this man on a donkey surrounded by shouting crowds, and everyone wants to know who he is. The crowd shouting Hosanna has one answer, the Son of David, the coming King; but their understanding is thin and will collapse within the week, when the same crowds cry crucify. They wanted a conquering king to throw off Rome, and when he turned out to be a different kind of king, their hosannas curdled. So the city's question, who is this, hangs unanswered over the whole Passion. It is the question the entire Gospel is written to answer, and it is finally the question every person must answer for themselves. The triumphal entry puts it squarely: a man rides into the city, the crowds are stirred, and the question is asked, who is this. You can shout Hosanna with the crowd on Sunday and turn on him by Friday if you have never really settled who he is. The whole city was stirred and asked the question. The question is still being asked.

The whole city asked it and so must I: who is this Jesus riding into my life, and have I settled the answer, or am I only shouting Hosanna with a crowd whose understanding could collapse by Friday?