By Eric Bleau
Palm Sunday marks the start of the Holy Week. Palm Sunday is the remembrance of Christ’s triumphal entry in to the city. One might picture a scene with Christ riding upon the back of a donkey and many people around celebrating, but this day almost 2000 years ago had much importance than meets the eye.
The Prophet Zechariah around the year 480BC foretold of the coming of the Messiah.
“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
Was this prophesy fulfilled by Christ? It was most definitely!
Matthew, the apostle who portrayed Christ as the Messiah and King, wrote:“They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their garments on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:7-9 NKJV
This account shows the people praising the coming of the Son of David. The people are recognizing Him as the promised King by calling Him the Son of David.
Mark, he viewed Christ as the Servant of the LORD, wrote: “Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their garments on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “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 11:7-10 NKJV
This verse was the fulfillment of the following verse in Psalms 118:26 as well.
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD!” Psalms 118:26 NKJV
Luke, he reflected on Christ as a man, one who is worthy, wrote: “Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, thewhole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they have seen, saying:”Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I will tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”” Luke 19:37-40 NKJV
Christ said this to the Pharisees because He is worthy of this praise and worship. He entered in the city as a man who was worthy.
Last but not least is John. John wrote about Christ’s divinity. Read the following verses:
“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm tress and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!”
Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign” John 12:12-18 NKJV
John showed something that the other gospels didn’t, the reason why the people came to see the Coming King. Not because they knew they had to be there to fulfill prophesy, but because they saw that works and miracles and the divinity of the Christ and came to welcome in the living God.
As I studied all this for this study I found a couple interesting points I would like to share with you.
Why Palms? I believe it is because in the book of Judges, Deborah used to sit UNDER a palm tree as a site for judgment for the Israelites.
“And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” Judges 4:5 NKJV
The Palm I feel is symbolic for judgment. In Judges, Deborah sat under the palm acting as a judge of Israel. But now in the gospels, Christ is entering the town UPON the palms. He is worthy and above judgment because He is God. Interesting that, that Justice Lady (I don’t know the actually name, but she is blindfolded and holding a scale) in one hand is holding her scales and the other is holding a palm branch.
Christ rode in a donkey… Why is the odd you ask? Because according the Law, donkeys were unclean animals. It’s amazing to see this because it proves that God can and will use ANYONE no matter how unclean or bad they are.
How would you welcome Christ into your city or town? Have you welcomed Christ in to your daily life and heart? Just as He made this entry into Jerusalem he wants to enter your life and be your Lord as well.
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