PALM SUNDAY 5th April 2020
PALM SUNDAY
Jesus came on the 10th day of Nissan,4
days before the Passover, to Jerusalem. On this day the Jews selected a perfect
lamb for the Passover sacrifice. They kept the lamb at home for 4 days and
examined it carefully for any defect, to be sure that it was perfect. On the
way, Jesus stopped at Bethany, just 2 miles from Jerusalem, at the house of
Martha and Mary and Lazarus. Four types of people came to see Him, His
disciples, believers, mere spectators and the religious leaders. Seeing the
huge crowds that followed Jesus, the religious leaders decided to kill him and
Lazarus. (John 12:9-11)
Next day, on entering Jerusalem, Jesus
sent two disciples to fetch a colt of a donkey, that had never been ridden on
before. This was done to fulfill the prophecy of Zachariah 9:9, “Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King
comes to you, He is just, and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an
donkey, and upon a colt, the foal of an donkey. (John 12:12-15)” When Jesus
came there, He wept over the city saying, “If you, even you, had known today
the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes”
(Luke 19:42). People waved palm branches to signify welcoming of a King and put
their cloaks on the ground for the donkey to walk on: “This is the day which
the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Hosanna, I beseech you, O
LORD, O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity. Hosanna, blessed is He who
comes in the Name of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:24-25). Hosanna means “save us” or
“Deliver us.” This also fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 9: 24-27, that the
Messiah would be cut off.
Jesus told his disciples
to bring that donkey and if anyone asks, tell them the LORD has need of them.
An insignificant donkey became significant because Jesus the Messiah needed
him. Even today, the LORD needs donkeys who will obey Him. He chose a thief on
the cross, a characterless Samaritan woman, a demonic from Gadara and
associated with prostitutes, and gluttons and tax collectors to proclaim the
Gospel. Later that day, Jesus cleansed the temple which had been
commercialized. The court of Gentiles had been turned into a marketplace. He
said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations (Gentiles),
but you have made it a den of thieves (Mark 11:17).”
During the Passover week,
all the Jewish families cleansed their houses of all leaven, which is a sign of
corruption. Today most of our churches have been commercialized and corrupted.
They need to be cleansed so that Gentiles (lost people) can come to His house
of prayer. He needs people like the humble donkeys, who will obediently carry
His gospel of Kingdom where Christ is not named. (1 Corinthians 1:26-28)
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