First Christian Church

By Bruce Humes

Pastor

This Sunday, March 28, Christians around the world will celebrate Palm Sunday. This is the day that Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem presenting himself to the nation Israel as the Messiah, the anointed one, the son of God. All four of the gospels record this event, but we will look into the apostle Matthew’s account in Matthew 21:1-11.

Verses 1-5 say, “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 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. And if anyone says anything to you, say the Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them.’ All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of by the prophet, saying: ‘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.’” The prophet mentioned was Zechariah, who wrote the prophetic words 550 years earlier. It is one of many Old Testament Scriptures the prophets wrote concerning the coming Messiah and the fulfillment by Jesus.

Let’s pick up the text in verses 6-8: “So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” In riding into Jerusalem on a donkey in this manner, Jesus is making a very public and deliberate pronouncement that he is the Messiah. There would be no doubt in the minds of those in Jerusalem at this time that this was Jesus’ message.

Let’s look at how the people of Jerusalem responded to this pronouncement. Verse 9 says, “Then the multitude 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!’” Hosanna means “save us now.” “Son of David” is a messianic title, and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” is an expression or acknowledgment of Christ’s messianic claim. As he made his way to Jerusalem, they at least for a time saw him as their king. This was short-lived because he would soon be betrayed and turned over to the Gentiles to be crucified.

We will finish up with verses 10 and 11: “And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying: ‘Who is this?’ So, the multitudes said, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’” The same crowd that sang Hosanna would be hollering “crucify him, crucify him” just a week later. Thus setting into motion the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

If you want to speak to someone or have a need, call the church office at (562) 431-8810.