Palm Sunday

BY SHARON ROBERTS

Matthew 21

JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM LIKE A KING

¹ Jesus and HIS followers were coming closer to Jerusalem. But first they stopped at Bethphage at the hill called the Mount of Olives. From there JESUS sent two of HIS followers into town. ² HE said to them, “Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a donkey with her colt. Untie them both, and bring them to ME. ³If anyone asks you why you are taking the donkeys, tell them, ‘The MASTER needs them. HE will send them back soon.’”

⁴ This showed the full meaning of what the prophet said:

⁵ “Tell the people of Zion,
‘Now your KING is coming to you.
HE is humble and riding on a donkey.
HE is riding on a young donkey, born from a work animal.’”

(JESUS didn’t come in on a stallion, or like Herod in a Chariot, HE came as a humble KING on a young donkey) Sometimes our anointed ones come in old cars, on a bike and maybe even walking. Let’s not crucify, let them bless us.

⁶ The followers went and did what JESUS told them to do. ⁷ They brought the mother donkey and the young donkey to HIM. They covered the donkeys with their coats, and JESUS sat on them. ⁸ On the way to Jerusalem, many people spread their coats on the road for JESUS. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ Some of the people were walking ahead of JESUS. Others were walking behind HIM. They all shouted,

“Praise ^[b] to the SON of David!
‘Welcome! GOD bless the ONE who comes in the name of the LORD!’

Praise to GOD in heaven!”

¹⁰ Then JESUS went into Jerusalem. All the people in the city were confused. They asked, “Who is this MAN?” (PEOPLE TODAY ARE STILL ASKING, WHO IS THIS MAN?)

¹¹ The crowds following JESUS answered, “This is JESUS. HE is the prophet from the town of Nazareth in Galilee.”

JESUS IS AND WAS MORE THAN A PROPHET, HE IS AND WAS THEN THE SON OF GOD.

The significance of JESUS riding on a donkey and having HIS way paved with palm branches is the fulfillment of prophecy spoken by Zechariah in the Old Testament Zechariah 9:9. In biblical times, the regional custom called for kings and nobles arriving in procession to ride on the back of a donkey. The donkey symbolizes peace; those who rode upon them proclaimed peace. The laying of palm branches indicated that the king or a very important person was arriving in victory. Today when we see police escorts or black limousines we know someone important is coming or something important just happened.

Zechariah 9:9-10

The Future King

⁹ People of Zion, rejoice!
People of Jerusalem, shout with joy!
Look, your KING is coming to you!
HE is the good KING who won the victory, but HE is humble.
HE is riding on a donkey, on a young donkey born from a work animal.
¹⁰ I will take the war chariots away from Ephraim
and the horse soldiers from Jerusalem.
I will destroy the bows used in war.

Your KING will bring news of peace to the nations.
HE will rule from sea to sea,
from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

The LORD Will Save HIS People and HE will (did) use HIS OWN BLOOD to do it

¹¹ Jerusalem, we used blood to seal your agreement, (JESUS used HIS OWN BLOOD to save us all)
so I am setting your people free from that empty hole in the ground. (We are no longer prisoners of satan)
¹² Prisoners, go home!
Now you have something to hope for.
I am telling you now,
I am coming back to you. (JESUS IS COMING BACK TO US)

Palm Sunday is a reflection on the final week of JESUS’ life. It is a time for us as Believers to prepare our hearts for the agony of JESUS Passion and the joy of HIS Resurrection. THE PASSION OF CHRIST!!

JESUS did come, HE did live as a man, HE did have joy and pain, HE did suffer, die, rise and HE is coming again. People you better get ready.

Father, as we prepare our minds and hearts to hear from YOU, bless us to be obedient to YOUR WORD. As David said in Psalm 51, “make us obey YOU” create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us as we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of our soon coming KING and we pray this in JESUS name, AMEN.