Study Journal: The Triumphal Entry

I found it interesting how Christ asked two of his disciples to simply walk up and take a donkey. That required a lot of faith from his disciples on one hand. They had to have faith that they wouldn't get punished for stealing. The owner, on the other hand, also
The leaves of the fig tree that Christ cursed showed that it should have been bearing fruit. However, it didn't have any fruit. You shouldn't pretend to be doing something, when in your heart, you have no desire to actually do it.

Also, Jesus is the God of Justice, and he will have to smite some in the last day who aren't willing to follow his commandments. It was better that he demonstrate this on a tree than on an actual person.
The spikenard that Mary used, as well as the anointing of the head and the feet, indicate a great honor, usually only given to kings, and rarely at that. Mary may have known that Christ was going to be buried soon, and acted accordingly.