Some of us wave them on Palm Sunday. Why do we celebrate with palm branches?
Jesus knew this was his last week to be alive. Soon,
He would be crucified. There was much to be done and taught. We celebrate many
of these last events. The first event in that last week, we call Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday is special because Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem and the crowds
praised His name and waved palm branches.
The day started early with Jesus coming to Jerusalem
and the people heard He was on his way. They waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna!”
Hosanna means, save now.
Jesus sent two of His disciples to get a colt. A colt
is a baby donkey. This colt had never been ridden. Can you imagine someone
climbing on a donkey that hadn’t had a person on it? The colt would buck and complain.
Amazingly, this one didn’t because he knew who was going to ride him. How proud
he must have been that the Lord had chosen him to ride.
The disciples brought the colt to Jesus and draped
their coats across its back. The crowd shouted. “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that
comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”(Mark 11:9) Some took off their coats and robes and place
them on the road. They cut more braches, with masses of leaves, to wave before
Jesus.
The Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus, “Teacher rebuke
Your disciples.”
Jesus answered, “If these should keep silent, the
stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus drew near Jerusalem and he gazed over it and
cried. He knew what was going to happen to Jerusalem. It would be destroyed completely
with not one brick left upon another. The people of Jerusalem, especially the
spiritual leaders, had been given the chance to believe in Him as the Messiah,
but they chose not to. They were going to kill Him in just one week.
This day was filled with happy shouts and laughter—yet
was filled with sorrow for our Lord. He understood and took His rightful praise
which brought Him joy but in his foreknowledge, He was troubled in His spirit.
The crowd was excited He was here. When Jesus entered
Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred. “Who is this?”
The crowd answered, “This is Jesus the prophet from
Nazareth of Galilee.”
This day, Palm Sunday, is a joyful occasion. We
celebrate the fact that Jesus is King. He rode into Jerusalem and the crowd
acknowledged who He was. He was the Messiah, King, and the Christ. Now, with more understanding, may you
celebrate Palm Sunday!
Memorize: Matthew 21: 9b “Hosanna to the son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of
the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated
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