It was a
Palm Sunday when the Lord Jesus Christ rode down the slopes of the Olivet and
entered the city of Jerusalem triumphantly, just a few days before His
crucifixion. He was well aware of what was in store for Him there, and He
foretold to His disciples that He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and
shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall
scourge Him, and put Him to death: and on the third day He shall rise again
(Luke 18:32-33). In precise fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah, at His
command, His disciples brought an ass with her colt (Matthew 21:1-3), put on
them their clothes and set the Lord thereon, where never man sat.
His
triumphal entry was not marked by any kind of show of power and pomp but of
meekness and lowliness. Prophet Zechariah said: "Rejoice greatly, O
Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you,
righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt,
the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9:9).
And many
spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the tree and
strawed them in the way” (Mark 11:8). Spreading of the garments in the way was
the ancient way of recognition of one's royalty (2 Kings 9:13). The mob marched
by taking palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" (John 12:13). Palm
branches were the symbol of expression of victory in the Biblical times. Those
who led the procession and those who followed shouted saying “Hosanna: Blessed
is He that comes in the name of the Lord: Blessed is the Kingdom of our father
David, that comes in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the Highest”, which means
“save us, Lord, who lives in Heaven”.
We see
that a few days later, the mob cried for His blood, saying, “Crucify Him,
Crucify Him”. The Lord Jesus being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, was taken, and by wicked hands crucified and slain… (Acts
2:23-24). He was cut off from the land of the living: for the transgression of
His people was He stricken, to save mankind from the jaws of eternal death. The
chief priests and the Pharisees were busy securing the sepulchre as best as
they could, by sealing the sepulchre and setting a guard with the help of
Pilate the Roman governor. But by conquering death, the Lord victoriously rose
from the grave on the third day as He had foretold. Jesus said, “No man takes
My life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it again” (John 10:18).
All those who confess their sins and trust in the Lord Jesus for their salvation will share in the victory won by Christ over sin and death. Apostle Paul speaks about the victory of the believing Christians. “We shall all be changed at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye that those saints who are dead in Christ would be raised in glory first, followed by those alive in Christ. Then shall be fulfilled the saying, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?” Dear reader, do you have the hope of eternal life beyond this life on the earth, if not confess your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ right now and be saved.
If you want to understand more about God’s Free Gift of Salvation in these final moments of human civilization, you could read through the several other articles in this blog archive.
- by Nadesan K.
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