Today I just reflect what happened on the original Palm
Sunday and give meaning to the perspective what is happening this last week of
Jesus life.
In order to really get some perspective on what is
happening, go back to Exodus 12:1-20, where God describes to Moses and Aaron
the first Passover. God explains that in order for the chosen people to be
saved, a lamb must be slaughtered. In fact, the chosen people must eat the
lamb. God says a lamb is to be selected on the 10th day of the month of
“Nisan,” which translates roughly to our springtime today. The lamb is to be
inspected; four days later, after the lamb has been determined to “be without
blemish” (Ex 12:5), it is to be slaughtered in the evening twilight with the
whole assembly of Israel present, (Ex 12:6). At Exodus 12:22, Moses instructs
people to take a hyssop branch, dip it in the blood of the lamb, and apply the
blood to their doorposts; the angel of death passes over the homes so marked.
They are literally saved by the blood of the lamb.
So it says in the bible
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
But you may be surprised that that part of the bible was
written nearly 500 years before Jesus birth and is in the Old Testament (or Torah, Jewish Bible)
in the book of Zachariah chapter 9 verse 9. Giving the people a glimpse of how the coming King would make his entrance almost half a millennium before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Remember the United States is only 237 years old)
So Jesus come riding into Jerusalem fulfilling the prophecy
and came riding in on a donkey. (Symbolically from beginning to end Jesus came
and left this earth riding on a Donkey, Mary rode on a donkey trying to find a
place to give birth and delivering Jesus.) And people were elated and lined the
streets with palm branches and greeted Jesus with jubilation (Luke 19:37-38), remember that these are the same people who shouted “Crucify Him” a week later.
So as you remember this day, Palm Sunday, and reflect on
how the story unfolds in Gospels. Remember that this is the last week of Jesus life on earth.
He was 33 Years old.
Lord, I praise you with all my being; I humbly honor You,
and reflect this last week how you Gave your one and only Son for me. Thank you
for this season, may I never forget that this is the buildup to the greatest
gift EVER! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Legend has it that the loyal one in this story
is the Donkey, the one who delivered Him to his birth place, the one that
brought Him into Jerusalem and legend has it that tried to help him carry the
cross. Many Christians believe that the donkey had known what Jesus was about
to go through with his trial and suffering. They say that seeing the tragic
event of Jesus’ crucifixion, the donkey wished he had been able to carry the
cross for Jesus, as he was the one who should carry such burdens. The donkey
turned his back on the sight, but he could not leave Jesus whom he had carried,
he wished to stay until all was over because of his love and loyalty.
In reward for the loyal and humble love of the donkey the
Lord caused the shadow of the cross to fall across his back and the donkey has
carried the cross ever since as a sign that the love of God and carries a
reward for all to see.
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