Palm Sunday
(John 12:12-19)
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—even on a donkey’s colt.” This is totally different from when He will come again as King of Kings riding on a white horse. Revelation 6:2 “Then I looked, and there was a white horse, and its rider had a bow. He was given a crown and rode off as a warrior to win battles.”
In the ancient Biblical world, a leader rode on a donkey to signify peace but he rode on a horse if he was coming in war.
The people greeted Him as though He were an earthly king that would end the Roman occupation and Jerusalem would again be a Jewish city. They waved palm leaves as He entered the city which is why this Sunday is called Palm Sunday.
They shouted, “Hosanna,” which means “save us,” and comes from Psalm 118:25 “Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.” However, many of the same people who shouted “Hosanna”, soon turned on Him and shouted “Crucify Him”.
This began Christ’s long week that led to the Cross. He met the trials of this week with steadfastness, with peace, and with great courage. He demonstrated that He alone is worthy to be called “Savior of the World”.
