14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: 15 "Don't be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey's colt." 16 His disciples didn't understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 12:14-16
Commentary on John 12:12-19
(Read John 12:12-19)
Christ's riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by all the evangelists. Many excellent things, both in the word and providence of God, disciples do not understand at their first acquaintance with the things of God. The right understanding of spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, prevents our misapplying the Scriptures which speak of it.