The chapter begins with an explanation of the Jewish festival of Passover. It is vital that pilgrims to Jerusalem undergo thorough purification rituals, necessitating an early arrival to the city to start the process. Ritual bathing, abstinence from sex, and strict avoidance of unclean things like dead bodies are all vital elements of the purification process. Pilgrims, on their way, worry about the high cost of living in Jerusalem, knowing that many Jewish officials have monetized Passover requirements for their own benefit.

Jesus announces to his followers that they are going to Jerusalem. After the Feast of the Tabernacles, they wandered around Judea to teach and heal. On the journey, Jesus has mentioned that he will “give his life as a ransom for many” (184), but despite this warning, the disciples are optimistic. They revel in Jesus’s growing popularity with the crowds, and they dismiss his words as just another parable. Jesus stops in Bethany, a 40-minute walk from Jerusalem, to stay with his friend Lazarus. In the morning of Sunday, April 2, 30 CE, Jesus enters Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, while his disciples cheer for him and wave palm fronds and olive branches.