Passion Week – Triumph!

Palm Sunday is celebrated one week before the most Holy day of the year for Christians, Easter.  It is a celebration of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. Still, it is also the first day of a week of uncertainty, turmoil, and shock for those who followed Jesus and for those who were unsure of who Jesus was.

Several months earlier, Jesus had avoided the entire Judean area because He knew the Religious Leaders were waiting to kill Him (John 7:1), something that would happen on His timing, not theirs.  Then, when God’s timing was right, He set out for Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).  He was ready to fulfill the mission for which He had come.

During the next few months, He continued to teach His disciples, preach the Good News, and provide healing for the people.  Then came the day when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1 – 53).  That miracle increased the target on His back, forcing Him to withdraw again until the time of the Passover celebration (John 11:54).  As that day approached, the people wondered if He would come, and the Pharisees made plans for His arrest and execution (John 11:55 – 57).

When the people heard He was coming, they cut palm branches in preparation for the celebration.  As Jesus rode in on a donkey, a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), as well as a beast fit for a king, the people shouted praises, acknowledging that He came in the name of the Lord.  While the people cheered, the Pharisees’ anger increased, as did their determination to kill Him.

Jesus heard the cheers and joyful welcome of the crowd, but He knew He was headed towards the imminent sacrifice that He had come to make, and that the people’s shouts would change drastically in the next few days.  Yet, He continued towards the cross.

Read: Matthew 21:1-11 & Mark 11:1-11

Food for Thought:

1. Why do you think Jesus “needed” the colt (Mark 11:3b)? If He had walked into Jerusalem that day, do you think the greeting would have been different?

• Read Psalm 118:24-26. Do you think the people understood the meaning of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem that day?  Should what we now know about that day affect the way we look at the second coming of Christ?

• Why do you think God orchestrated this celebration for Christ? What kind of “celebration” is God orchestrating in your life, and how should you respond?

For one fictional perspective on the Triumphal Entry, read Chapter 1 of The Shepherd’s Quest, by Elaine C. Duncan, available on Amazon.