Holy Week - Palm Sunday

Today is known as Palm Sunday in many parts of the Christian world. Today, many of us will or will have already joined with others in some special celebration or celebrations to mark this most significant day in the life of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Where I live, not unlike where most of you are, Palm Sunday can be extra special. This Triumphant Ride of King Jesus into Jerusalem, on a donkey, is marked with special youth rallies, religious marches and processions on the streets, cantatas, concerts, all day retreats and a whole host of other activities.

In today’s sharing, we receive reminders of some of the praise elements which were used by the people who followed Jesus into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. Matthew, in the NKJV, gives us information about some praise elements.

Some followers spread their clothes on the road which King Jesus is travelling, on a donkey. Jesus is the King and those who are following, and a great multitude at that, took off their cloaks and outer clothes and spread them on the streets for the King to ride on. King Jesus had no red-carpet welcome as He entered the Holy City of Jerusalem, but He had a thick carpet of clothes, especially and specifically spread for Him.

Some followers cut down branches from trees and spread them all along the streets as Jesus sat on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey, fulfilling what was spoken long before, by the prophet. Luke informs us of this detail, about the vast crowd of people following King Jesus into Jerusalem. And they threw their clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Luke 19: 35b – 36.  King Jesus never asked for a horse or some stately, kingly stallion on which to ride, as He entered the City of David, as King. But He has chosen a faithful, young donkey to take Him most humbly into the city. Luke gives us this added information, when He asks His disciples to 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. Luke 19: 30. It is a donkey on which no human has ever ridden. King Jesus is not on a decorated stallion with finery, as kings have, but He has a donkey, decorated with the clothes of His followers, and He sat on their cloaks and coats.

Along with the praise elements of personal garments and branches cut from trees, strewn on the streets, there was the element of voices of praise. The voices of loud, human praise by ordinary people, trumpeted through the air, as the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out saying: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest! Matthew 21: 9. King Jesus did not have a royal fanfare - no royal announcer telling of His arrival; no trumpeters blowing celebratory tunes; no drummers with drum rolls – nothing of the sort which kings usually receive. Jesus came into Jerusalem to the voices of steady, loud praise. We are told that as these voices of praise, with their loud chants and waving branches, entered Jerusalem; all the city was moved, saying, who is this? So the multitudes said, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. Matthew 21: 10b – 11.

Elements of praise still accompany our Palm Sunday celebrations, some new and some old. One of the old elements of praise is the human voice that’s held by reverence, respect, honour and total deference to Jesus – God Incarnate – King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   

On this Palm Sunday, along with all you have done and said and already given to Jesus, will you share this heart-response to Him as we begin this final week of travel with our Lord? Without this Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, there would be no Crucifixion, no Resurrection, no Ascension and no Pentecost. Realize that these words spell CRAP – true foolishness to the world, but not to those being saved. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1: 18 KJV 

Palm Sunday Praise

Palm Sunday Praise we offer to You Jesus,

With hearts and voices joyfully melodious,

We laud and honour our resolute King,

Our unchained voices praises to You sing.

Amen!

During Holy Week, we will be spending lots of time, lifting high our Lord with the Psalmist. However, we shall begin each day with an experience which Jesus had, during Holy Week. I shall just call it, Today’s Jesus Experience.