On the Sunday before Christ’s crucifixion, Jesus walked the 2 miles from Bethany where He was staying, into the city of Jerusalem. When He arrived, He rode in on a donkey. People were running out in front of Him throwing palm branches on the ground creating a pathway and waving them and singing. (That’s the “Hosanna” thing you’ve always heard about!) This was actually a fulfillment of ancient prophecy from an ancient prophetZechariah.
(which was written hundreds of years before this event) FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.
Here’s the deal:
In biblical times, (especially during the rule of the Roman Empire) kings and nobles would parade in a procession, riding on the back of a donkey. The donkey was a symbol of peace; and riding it was a symbolic gesture that proclaimed peaceful intentions. When a king or dignitary was arriving in victory or triumph, people would lay palm branches in his path to signify the victory of the king.
In those days, legally, there was no king but Caesar. On this special sunday, people were packed into Jerusalem preparing for the annual Jewish Passover celebration. That’s not a problem. What was a problem was that they were praising a new king! One they believed was their long awaited Messiah and savior. Not Caesar. You gotta know, this didn’t go over very well with the Roman authorities in town.
And that is how Palm Sunday got the name Triumphal Entry.
Jesus then walked into the Temple, threw over the money changers tables, freed the sacrificial doves and healed the blind and the lame. And that was just on Sunday!
Having had a very full day, Jesus returned Sunday evening to the place that brought him comfort– the home of his friends Mary, Martha & Lazarus, in Bethany.
Read about it here! John 12:12-15
See you tomorrow!
S.
Passages for today:
Matt. 21: 1-17
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-46
John 12:12, 13
