This morning is Palm Sunday, the first day of what is known as Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. Palm Sunday is the day which looks back at the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that begins that final week. In a few days will be Good Friday, the day which commemorates his crucifixion. And next Sunday of course is Easter, the day in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We read the Matthew passage earlier in the service. Let’s read John’s account now:
John 12:12-19- The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 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. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
Jesus has been teaching and healing people around the region for almost three years at this point. As he enters Jerusalem for the Passover Feast, the crowd is really excited. They are waving palm branches, and shouting “Hosanna,” an exclamation that communicates their belief that Jesus has come to save them. They call him the King of Israel. Clearly, the crowd sees him as more than just a good teacher or miracle worker. In fact, John references the Old Testament prophecy that the people believe is being fulfilled here:
Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
