Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday - Sunday, March 24, 2024
Praise God: May The Spirit of this Holy Week be a reminder of God's love for us and Christ's sacrifice. Lord, we lift up Your name with hearts full of praise. We declare, "Hosanna in the Highest and glory to God in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
We wish you all a joyous Palm Sunday and Happy Spring to you & your family...
Palm Sunday takes place the Sunday directly before Easter and it's the start of Holy Week. It's a time to honor Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But why is it called Palm Sunday? And, why do churches give out palms?
Jesus rode through Jerusalem on a donkey and crowds gathered around Him. They laid palms in the street in front of Him as they proclaimed, "Hosanna in the Highest!" And, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
But why is the story so important? You see, Jesus came to us humbly. Remember, His birth took place in a manger. As He was preparing to go to the cross, He stayed humble, hence the donkey (which signifies peace) that He rode on in Jerusalem. No stretch limo. No Uber. Nope. Our Lord came in exactly according to scripture, "Behold, Your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden." This was based on Biblical prophecy from Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9.
As you think about the story of Jesus coming in humbly, how can you humble yourself to be more like Christ? Are there areas where you might have too much pride and need to ask Father God in Jesus' name for forgiveness? Here's the full story taken from the book of Matthew to help you understand more about Jesus and the significance of Palm Sunday.
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them and brought the ass, 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 strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
While you consider this Holy Week and all that Jesus did for us, remember, Holy Week is about reflection. It's a time to remember the significance of Jesus.
IF you turn on TV or get online, you might see all the fear over the coronavirus. Or, you'll see all the store ads, deals, discounts and online shopping. You might see offers to book that cruise deal now or buy that new car. BUT Easter and Holy Week are about sacrifice, not savings. Easter and Holy Week are about faith, not fear. The savings that we should reflect on are how our Lord and Savior saved us from hell by laying down His life for us on the cross. The fear that we should reflect on is having a reverent fear of God (Luke 12:5, Hebrews 10:31) and wanting to walk in His will.
Because of Jesus we can become Christians and we have eternal life through Him. Shout out to our Lord and Savior, Jesus! And, glory to God in the highest for making it ALL possible!
Bible Verses for Palm Sunday
Zechariah 9:9: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
John 12:12-19: On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
Luke 19:29-40: And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ "So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.
But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.
Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had 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 tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
