Palm Sunday

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

Prophesied 450-500 years before the event took place. Mentioned in all four Gospels. What am I talking about? Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem!

The people were expecting a conquering hero, riding on a steed, who would overthrow the Romans and set the people free. Instead Jesus arrived on a lowly donkey. The steed represents an image of war but the donkey one of peace. The people tore down Palm branches and threw them on the floor as Jesus went past. They also threw down their cloaks. Why?

The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life. Having done my research I found out that there are different Greek words that could have been used to describe the laying down of cloaks. To spread a covering like a cloth over a table, to spread a carpet on the ground or to unroll. The Greek word used here was ‘stronnumi’ which refers to spreading covers on a bed or couch. A strange choice you may think. The Romans used this word to make their gods welcome or to indicate that a special person like a general had arrived back from a victory. The crowds were welcoming Jesus like a god of a conquering hero. This wasn't a preacher's welcome. It was a welcome fit for a king or a god.

The people shouted out 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' Hosanna in the Hebrew means 'Save us'. Again they were looking to someone to save themselves from the Romans. What the people didn't understand was that yes Jesus would save them, but from their sins. A few days later their shouts of 'Hosanna' would be exchanged for 'Crucify Him' as Jesus went to the cross to save them from their sins and those that repented would receive eternal life.

That same offer is available for you today. All you have to do is to say sorry for all the wrong things you have done, ask Jesus to come into your life and He will do the rest. I'm not promising it will be an easy ride.

I believe that a time is coming when Jesus will return for His people. Are you going to be part of that plan? Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9‭-‬11 NKJV

David Lyon