The Entry into Jerusalem

The Entry into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1–11; Mark 11:7–10; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–18)

Inscription: missing

Uppsala description: Ihesus processit in Iherusalem asello. (Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey.)

Only a single scene was depicted in this field, as much of the space was taken up by what is now a walled-up church entrance. It portrayed the well-known event of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where he had come with his disciples to celebrate the Passover.

From the heavily damaged painting (the church entrance was later enlarged), we can still make out the city walls of Jerusalem on the right, with its buildings painted along the lower section around the portal. Several trees grew in front of the city gates. On the left side of the image was a group of apostles—Saint Peter at the front (today only the crown of his head is visible), with three others behind him. In the center walked a donkey carrying Jesus.

This scene fittingly concluded the cycle of Jesus’ public ministry and at the same time initiated the Passion narrative. There were no typological scenes here, although historical photographs might suggest otherwise. The typological parallel was, in fact, the entrance itself, surrounded by painted houses of Jerusalem, becoming visually one of the city’s gates. Monks entering through this passage into the sacred space of the church were symbolically entering Jerusalem. This theme may have been emphasized particularly on Palm Sunday, as the church procession likely entered the building through this very portal, commemorating Christ’s triumphal entry into the city.