Palm Sunday

Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;  Hosanna in the highest!” When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.  (Matthew 21:8-11, NASB)

Yesterday, 2 April, was Palm Sunday.  We remember Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  Earlier, He had told two of His disciples to go and fetch a donkey and her colt from their owner.  He even told them what to say to the owner.  How did Jesus know where to find the animals?  Jesus is God!  The Bible verse above tells what happened when Jesus entered the city.

It would be a momentous week for Jesus.  By Friday, He would fulfill His mission for coming to the earth He created:  He would die!  On Spy Wednesday, Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples and closest friends, would meet with the Temple authorities, and conspire to betray Him.  On Thursday, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples with a Seder meal, known to us as the Last Supper.  Later that night, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was arrested and brought to the authorities, where His trial would begin.  Then there was the horror of Friday. 

Matthew 21:9 image.  Found at Alabaster Grace Ministries, https://alabastergraceministries.org/alabaster-grace-notes/blog/hosanna-in-the-highest.  

His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is a contrast to the way the week would end up.  First, we have the people shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;  Hosanna in the highest!”  By the end of the week they would be shouting, “Crucify Him!”  “Hosanna” means “Praise God!”  Quite a difference from “Kill God!”  But the people didn’t understand just Who He was.  They thought the Messiah would come to deliver them from under the thumb of their Roman oppressors.  Instead, Jesus came to save them from their sins.  He came to save US from OUR sins! 

Worship:  “Hosanna” by Hillsong Worship

Mustache March is over.  As soon as Sue took this picture, she shaved me.