Palm Sunday

As they reached the outskirts of Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to a village to retrieve a donkey for him to ride. Jesus knew all the prophecies concerning his life and he would fulfill each one. He told the disciples where to find an animal and exactly what to say when they were asked why they were taking it.

They found the donkey and started untying it. The owner asked them what they were doing and they answered just as Jesus had instructed, "the Lord needs it." And the owner let them take the donkey. Some of the disciples put their coats on the animal, which had never been ridden, and Jesus sat on it. (Matthew 21:1-7; Mark 11:1-7; Luke 19:28-35)

Jesus needed a donkey to ride. And we know from the Word that God supplies all our needs. (Philippians 4:19) Jesus had divine knowledge of who had the seed (donkey) that could be sown into his ministry. This very person may have had a tremendous need of his or her own and was seeking where they could sow some seed. The Law of Sowing and Reaping was in play - also given by Jesus as, give and it shall be given to you in greater measure. (Luke 6:38) Just as Jesus borrowed Peter's boat to teach and then gave him the largest catch ever, it is safe to believe that the owner of this donkey was blessed in like manner. At the very least, they gave an unbroken donkey that had not been ridden and received a perfectly tame donkey in return. Anything more would be speculation. But knowing the abundant nature of God, I suspect they received a remarkable blessing in return.

Some Reading Suggestions For Palm Sunday:
Pokey, The Little Burro - A children's story and sermon on Palm Sunday.
Hanna's Parade - A story of the donkey that carried Jesus on Palm Sunday. This Palm Sunday story includes a lesson on faith and healing.
Palm Sunday Parade - A Palm Sunday story from the Gospels.
The Palm Sunday Song - An original children's song sung to the tune "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain."

For additional Palm Sunday resources

As the procession neared Jerusalem, the disciples and many Jews joined in loud praise to Jesus. Many had witnessed the miracles, including Lazarus being raised back to life, and had spread the word that Jesus was on his way. They were shouting:

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven! (Luke 19:38 HCSB)

The religious leaders were angry at this praise and demanded that Jesus rebuke his disciples. Jesus replied, that even if the people could be silenced, the stones would be shouting praise. (Luke 19:37-40)

God had made the earth perfect in every way. And then sin entered the world and the earth was cursed. What God had made good was corrupted. Peace, life and abundance once reigned throughout the earth, but it was replaced by famine, destruction, violence and death. With this in mind we can understand the comments by Jesus. All of creation knew their redeemer had come. And it was only a matter of time before the earth would be redeemed and transformed back to the paradise it once was. Paul in his letter to the Romans explains this concept quite well.

For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his children. For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay - the things that overcame the world against its will at God's command - will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God's children enjoy. For we know that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer sickness and death as they await this great event. (Romans 8:19-22 TLB)

The triumphant arrival of Jesus, and his death and resurrection later that week, would be a milestone on the road to the earth's ultimate redemption. The earth had been waiting patiently, and now the redeemer was here. The recreation of the earth, from its perspective, was not far away.

The whole earth has seen God's salvation of his people. That is why the earth breaks out in praise to God, and sings for utter joy! (Psalm 98:3-4 TLB)

Satan, the god of this world, had blinded the eyes of the religious leaders. (2 Corinthians 4:4) They had God in their midst, but could not see or understand him, or the even the signs of the times. Religion was rules, customs and more importantly power and prestige for the religious leaders. Jesus threatened their position. He presented a problem because he demonstrated what God was really like - love, compassion, freedom, abundance and forgiveness. All the religious leaders could offer the people were rules, condemnation, shame and burdens that they themselves could not carry.

Their desire to silence the crowd must have been of satanic origin. Because of all the people in Jerusalem, the religious leaders should have known that God inhabits the praise of His people. (Psalm 22:3) And it was vain to try and stop the celebration.

The Jews were God's chosen people and Jerusalem was their Holy City. When the city came into view, Jesus paused and wept for the city. He knew that they would reject him. Jesus knew the consequences would be the coming Roman destruction of Jerusalem, the scattering and persecution of his people for centuries.

"If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it's too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

(Luke 19:41-44 The Message)

Jesus was a man of love. He does not want to lose a single person to hell. He came specifically to offer himself to pay for the sins of all. If people would merely accept Jesus as their Savior and the free gift of salvation, they would spend eternity with Jesus and live in freedom while still on earth. But the people in Jerusalem were stubborn. Some resisted out of pride, some for jealousy and still others out of fear. They would reject their king and sentence their Savior to crucifixion at the hands of the Romans.

Jesus came for you. Make sure you accept his free gift of salvation before it is too late. Make sure that when the final trumpet sounds any tears by Jesus are tears of joy at seeing you in his presence.

Hosanna, which means "help us" or "save us" is used often as praise to God. By shouting this, along with other praises, the people lining the street recognized that Jesus was a Savior. Unfortunately, some may have misunderstood exactly what Jesus would save them from and thought it was from Roman occupation and not their sinful nature.

John even remarked how the disciples did not fully realize the meaning of Palm Sunday as well as many other events in the life of Jesus until after his resurrection. That shouldn't be a surprise. Before Pentecost, they were spiritually dead. They could not understand spiritual things without being Born Again. This was the point that Jesus tried to make to Nicodemus, an expert in the Law. A spiritually dead person can't understand God's wisdom without being spiritually reborn. Just as Moses lifted the bronze snake in the wilderness to heal those bitten by snakes, by his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus would pay the full penalty for all sin. By faith in Jesus, you are healed, declared righteous, or in right standing with God and most importantly spiritually reborn. When you put your faith in Jesus, you become God's child, free to enjoy His goodness. (John 3:1-21) Now that is a good reason to praise Him!

Palm Sunday presented a great opportunity for the people to praise Jesus. But now that he is back in heaven and on his throne, we have an even better reason to praise him continually. He has given you the Holy Spirit who dwells in every believer. If you will spend time in his Word, you have a promise that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will make their home in your heart. (John 14)

If that wasn't reason enough, the Bible is filled with reasons to praise God. It will bring down walls (Joshua 6), win battles (2 Chronicles 20), create life (Luke 1), feed the hungry (Mark 8) and set you free (Acts 16)! Remember nothing is impossible with God (Genesis 18:14; Job 4:22; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37). If that still isn't enough, under the old covenant animal sacrifices were required. But under the new one, we are only required to sacrifice praise. (Hebrews 13:15; see also Psalm 107:22 and Psalm 116:17) If you need some assistance, read the following aloud and with joy in your heart. Personalize them if that has more impact on your spirit.

But those who want the best for me, Let them have the last word-a glad shout!- and say, over and over and over,
"God is great-everything works together for good for his servant."
I'll tell the world how great and good you are, I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.
(Psalm 35:27-28 The Message)

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(Psalm 103:1-5 NIV)

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
(Philippians 4:4,6 AMP)

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
(Hebrews 13:15 AMP)

Jesus entered the Temple and once again and was saddened by what he saw. The religious leaders allowed all sorts of merchants and money changers to fill the Temple. Often, they would cheat God's people with heavy fees and exorbitant exchange rates. For pilgrims who may have traveled long distances to worship God, this might push them away from the joy of worshipping God.

Jesus chased out all the merchants and money changers saying, that they had turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-46)

The religious leaders had ignored and quite possibly profited from these transactions. But this was not what God wanted from His house. It was supposed to be a house of prayer and worship. People who came to worship were not to be abused or taken advantage of by unscrupulous merchants.

Since Jesus is now glorified, as a believer, God's Temple is in you. You don't have to travel to one specific place to worship God. You can be in His presence 24/7/365. But when its time to join together with other believers, it is important that worship is the primary motive. All churches should be houses of prayer and not dens of thieves.