Matthew records the events of what we know as Palm Sunday — “And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them and brought the donkey, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way, others cut down branches from the trees, and spread them on the road. And the multitude who went before and those who followed cried out, saying “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” And when He had come to Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying “Who is this?” (Matthew 21: 6-10).
Palm Sunday always falls on the Sunday before Easter or the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John gives us a timeline we often call “Holy Week.” The prophecy of Zachariah 9:9 is fulfilled, “Rejoice greatly, O daughters 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.” Here Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy and declaring that He was the King of Israel, which greatly angered the Sanhedrin.
The people were singing part of Psalm 118:25-26, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Usually a king would ride into a city on a horse when he was bent upon war and would ride a donkey when he symbolized his arrival in peace. Jesus’ entry would have symbolized his entry as the “Prince of Peace” for mankind. He is our only hope for peace with the Almighty God as sinners. He alone is our Savior.
In Luke 19:41 as Jesus approaches Jerusalem He weeps over the city and foretells His coming passion on the cross. They cry of “Hosanna” by the people means “save now” and though in their own minds they were looking for an earthly king to delver them from Rome. However, God has a different plan at work to bring forgiveness from sin and a true eternal salvation for lost mankind, to all who would trust Him. We are told in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
We have so much to be grateful for this week. Satan will try and distract you for the reason Jesus came to earth. Do not allow him to do so. Ask God to direct your thoughts toward worshipping our Lord Jesus, and thanking Him for His gift of the cross and celebrate the power of His resurrection and our new life forever in Him: What a day to be safe for eternity.
Dr. David Bouler of Global Faith Ministries, Chattanooga, Tennessee, contributed this column to the Journal Review. He can be reached by email at debouler@aol.com.
