Today is a day celebrated by countless millions of people around the world. It is called “Palm Sunday,” a celebration of the day Jesus – Isa al Masih – rode a donkey into Jerusalem – Al Quds – at the beginning of the last week of his life on earth.
This event was predicted by the prophet Zechariah almost 500 years before Jesus was born (the book of Zechariah, chapter 9, verse 9):
“Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey —
riding on a donkey’s colt.”
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .he had just raised Lazarus from the dead – an amazing miracle. News of it spread everywhere.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .he was at the height of his popularity.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .huge crowds were filled with great enthusiasm and joyful expectation about the Messiah.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .Jewish religious leaders were filled with jealousy, despair, and helplessness. They saw Jesus as a threat to their position, power, and prestige.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .people shouted “Hosanna!” which means “Save now!”
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .people expected the Messiah to be a Conquering King.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .people expected rescue from the oppression and the occupation of Rome.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .he had something very, very different in mind from the crowds.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .he came to rescue people – to save them – from the oppression of their sins.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .he came to conquer Satan.
When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. . .he came to bring a Kingdom – the Kingdom of God – in the hearts of people who would trust him and follow him.
“Hosanna, Jesus!”
Save us. . .from our sins, from our selves, from Satan.
(Postscript – this story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem can be found in the Injil here:
in the Good News according to Matthew, chapter 21, verses 1-17
in the Good News according to Mark, chapter 11, verses 1-11
in the Good News according to Luke, chapter 19, verses 29-44
in the Good News according to John, chapter 12, verses 12-19
You can see an excellent video of this event here: https://www.bible.com/videos/67).
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