Holy Week Begins with Palm Sunday

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” Matthew 21: 8-10

The height of excitement stirred in the hearts of the Israelites. Could this be the coming King, the Messiah, the anointed Savior?

The people had gathered from all over the country and beyond to celebrate Passover. Many were talking about this man named Jesus. I’m sure they told stories about him –  many which were real. Some may have been exaggerated. But then, how could you exaggerate the story of Lazarus walking out of the grave just days prior!

As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, the crowd grew to the point of frenzy, even taking the form of a coronation. They laid their coats on the ground paving the way for Jesus’ donkey. They grabbed palm branches and waved them exuberantly and laid them on the pathway. It was a royal treatment. Even the prophetic language, “Hosanna…Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” from Psalm 118 is a declaration reserved for the coronation of a king, and someday the Messiah King.

No one understood what would transpire that week, not even Jesus’ closest disciples. Yet in a prophetic act the nation celebrated the coming King, even the Messiah, the anointed Savior.

We begin our Holy Week celebration with Palm Sunday.  On that first Palm Sunday the jubilant crowd may not have comprehended the prophetic act of declaring Jesus the Messiah King.  Nor did they understand that he also would be the sacrificial Passover lamb for the sins of the world.  Now 2,000 years later, we come to this Palm Sunday still trying to fully grasp it all.  But we know Jesus is our anointed Savior King.

Please join us this Sunday, March 28th.  We will celebrate by remembering the very first Holy Week and declaring again, “Hosanna” (Oh Lord save, Oh Lord grant us success!).   Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Pastor Wes