The First Day of Passion Week

The First Day of  Passion Week (Author: EY, Translator: KC)

Introduction:
Today is “Palm Sunday”, the Sunday before Jesus’ resurrection. It is also the first day of Passion Week. On this day, Jesus obeyed the Father’s will as he rode the colt to Jerusalem. The crowd took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13). This is Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. When He saw the holy city, He cried for what was about to happen. That night, Jesus returned to Bethany and stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

Key Events:

Events/Facts	Location	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
1 Jesus rode the colt to Jerusalem	Bethany to Jerusalem	21:1‐11	11:1‐10	19:29‐40	12:12‐19
2 Jesus cried for Jerusalem	Jerusalem			19:41‐44
3 Jesus stayed in Bethany	Bethany	21:17	11:11

Key verses:
Matthew 21:1-11 Behold, Your King Is Coming to You
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then 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!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Meditation:
Every time  I read this verse, it reminds me of how sad Jesus must have been. He knew this crowd, including His disciples, did not know His true identity. From the start, Jesus knew even though the crowd was shouting “Hosanna!”,  a few days later they would shout “Crucify Him!”. Even his disciples would betray Him, abandon Him or disown him.

Thank the Lord for the blood He shed. Although we are not worthy, Jesus loves us entirely and He will save us entirely! “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”

Hymn：Hosanna (Hillsong)