Hosanna is one of the few Hebrew words used in the New Testament. It is an entreaty for deliverance or a celebration that salvation is coming. Despite the rich young ruler's search for eternal life (Mark 10:17–22), most Jews speak of "deliverance" in a political, earthly sense, as in from their Gentile oppressors.

While the people are celebrating the arrival of the Messiah and the imminent return of David's kingdom, Jesus mourns. He prophesies that Jerusalem will be besieged on all sides, the people scattered or destroyed, and the stones torn down, all because the people don't understand who the Messiah is and what He has come to do (Luke 19:41–44). Later, Jesus will tell the disciples that the temple will be torn down, stone by stone (Luke 21:5–6).

Jesus' words came to life in AD 70 when Titus and Tiberius Julius Alexander squashed rebellious Jews who took control of the city in AD 66. In the ensuing struggle the temple caught fire and burned so hot that the gold ornaments melted into the cracks between the stonework. In order to ransack the gold, Roman soldiers literally ripped the stones apart. Josephus, the Jewish historian, records, "…but for all the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited" (Flavius Josephus; The Judean War; Book 7, Chapter 1; Section 1).

Hosanna, literally "save us, please!", is an appropriate cry, although the crowd doesn't understand why. For the time being, the people expect Jesus to gather the nation to rebel against Rome, force out the pagan Gentile oppressors, and bring in the kingdom of David. This will happen, but not yet. The Jews are angry that they are separated from their promised glory, but Jesus is more concerned that they, and the world, are separated from God. The exultant Jewish crowd does not need to be saved from Rome but from their sins which will lead them to hell. By the end of the week, thorns will be Jesus' crown, and a cross His throne. What some see as the failed promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), Moses (Deuteronomy 29), and David (2 Samuel 7) becomes the fulfilled promise God made to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15).

Mark 11:1–11 records an event included in all four Gospels: that several days before the crucifixion, Jesus enters Jerusalem, welcomed by the people as the Messiah who will free them from Roman rule. Jesus enters on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and symbolizing the peaceful nature of His first coming. Matthew 21:1–11 ties the triumphal entry to Isaiah 62:11. Luke 19:29–44 records that the Pharisees demand Jesus silence His followers and that Jesus weeps, knowing what happen when the Romans destroy Jerusalem in AD 70. John 12:12–19 goes into more detail about how the disciples don't realize Jesus is fulfilling prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) until after the ascension (Acts 1:6–11).

Jesus and the disciples arrive in Jerusalem a week before the crucifixion, and Jesus begins the last days of His public ministry. They spend their nights on the Mount of Olives and their days in Jerusalem (Luke 21:37). Jesus accepts the accolades designed for a king (Mark 11:1–11), attacks materialistic tradition that keeps people from worshiping God (Mark 11:15–19), gives an object lesson about the fate of fruitless Jerusalem (Mark 11:12–14, 20–25), and reveals the Jewish religious leaders' hypocrisy (Mark 11:27–33). Despite the support of the crowd, Jesus is pushing the leaders toward the crucifixion.

The preceding passages included several miracles and lessons from Jesus. These set the stage for the last, dramatic days of His earthly ministry. In this chapter, Jesus enters Jerusalem to great fanfare and openly confronts local religious leaders for their hypocrisy. Over the next few chapters, Mark will continue to record controversial teachings, leading up to Jesus' arrest and early sham trials, recorded in chapter 14.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.

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