Palm Sunday - What Is It All About?

A Composite Reading of the Palm Sunday Record

Matthew 21:1-11 – Mark 11:1-11 - Luke 19:29-44 - John 12:12-26

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her which no-one has ever ridden. Untie them and bring them here to me. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’"

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the donkey and the colt to Jesus, they placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. The great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem 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 the king the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" “I tell you," He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you."

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The whole city was stirred and asked,

"Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.

Palm Sunday

What Is It All About?

THE EXPECTED MESSIAH –

The Promise

This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’"

These Jewish people knew the Old Testament Scriptures, and were in constant expectation of the arrival of the promised Messiah. There were those at the time of the birth of the Lord who were looking for, and longing for the coming! Through the life of the Lord Jesus the question had been asked, was He the Messiah! Now there was another visual declaration of His rightful claim to be King. He fulfilled the prophetic promise. But His deliverance was not to be the expected one!