Palm Sunday - Matthew 21:1-11
The sound of people shouting “Hosanna” filled the air as Jesus entered Jerusalem. A road covered with coats and lined with waving palm branches marks His path through the Holy City. Everyone is in awe as they bear witness to prophecy fulfilled, "at last the King has come!" The day of Jesus's arrival marks a special day as the Jews begin making preparation for Passover. The story told by their forefathers lays heavy on their minds of the great rescue from Egypt. The descriptions of God's deliverance from death through lamb's blood over doorposts have drawn them to Jerusalem. (Exodus 12:23)
The "Shabbat HaGadol" or "The Great Sabbath" as described by the Jews, is the Sabbath before Passover. On this day, the Jews were instructed to select and take home their sacrificial lamb to be inspected for any spot or blemish. Great care is taken to ensure that the lamb is a "worthy sacrifice" for the day of Passover. On the very same day, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem (Palm Sunday.) Do you see the foreshadowing? Do you see how God's plan of salvation was on display all those years ago? Jesus not only enters the city as The King but also as The Lamb. The road covered with coats and lined with waving palm branches isn't a path to a throne but a path to a cross. They believe He is there to put an end to Roman tyranny, instead, He is there to put an end to the tyranny of sin! They believe He is there to establish an earthly kingdom, instead, he is there to establish an eternal kingdom! They believe He is there to deliver them with a display of force, instead, He comes to deliver them by a display of life laid down!
Hebrews 9:22 tells us, "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Jesus is our perfect Passover Lamb and it is by His blood smeared cross that He has delivered us from the slavery of sin. Let us shout "Hosanna" as we remember his great love for us! ("He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all..." Romans 8:32.)
By: Chris Bryant
The "Shabbat HaGadol" or "The Great Sabbath" as described by the Jews, is the Sabbath before Passover. On this day, the Jews were instructed to select and take home their sacrificial lamb to be inspected for any spot or blemish. Great care is taken to ensure that the lamb is a "worthy sacrifice" for the day of Passover. On the very same day, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem (Palm Sunday.) Do you see the foreshadowing? Do you see how God's plan of salvation was on display all those years ago? Jesus not only enters the city as The King but also as The Lamb. The road covered with coats and lined with waving palm branches isn't a path to a throne but a path to a cross. They believe He is there to put an end to Roman tyranny, instead, He is there to put an end to the tyranny of sin! They believe He is there to establish an earthly kingdom, instead, he is there to establish an eternal kingdom! They believe He is there to deliver them with a display of force, instead, He comes to deliver them by a display of life laid down!
Hebrews 9:22 tells us, "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Jesus is our perfect Passover Lamb and it is by His blood smeared cross that He has delivered us from the slavery of sin. Let us shout "Hosanna" as we remember his great love for us! ("He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all..." Romans 8:32.)
By: Chris Bryant
