There had been multiple triumphal entries prior to Christ’s. When a festival, such as the Passover, was celebrated in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate would make it a point to travel to Jerusalem, not only to be there for the festival, but also to remind the citizens that Rome was still in charge. When Jesus came into Jerusalem, He was not a conquering king like the Israelites may have expected. Instead, He came to conquer sin and to take from us the burden that keeps us from a relationship with God. He became the passover Lamb and gave his life so that we would have one free of sin and shame.
Luke 22:15-23