Palm Sunday – April 13, 2025

 

Scripture reading: Zechariah 9:9-10

Introduction

  • Zechariah 9:9-10 prophesies the coming of Israel’s king to Jerusalem, an event the Jewish people anticipated for centuries and that took place on Palm Sunday.
  • All four Gospels describe the event. It’s the single most important day in Israel’s history up to that point.

Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-16 with notes

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

  • “Bethphage” – east of Jerusalem on eastern slope of Mt of Olives. Jesus comes from the east and likely enters through the eastern gate in fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophesy (Ez 10:18-19; 11:23; 43:1-5).
  • “sent two disciples” – Jesus orchestrates this royal processional. It was only on Palm Sunday that Jesus goes public with his identity. Up to this point, Jesus has kept his identity on the down low: “Messianic secret.” Now, he announces it to the world.

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

  • “donkey” – associated with power: a royal mount (Judges 10:4; 12:14; Kings 1:33). In the ANE, officials often used donkeys for civil processionals to emphasize peace and horses for military processionals to emphasize power. Here, per Zechariah 9:9, Jesus comes as the humble, gentle king offering reconciliation (fits pattern: humble birth, ministry). At his parousia, he will come as the conquering warrior king leading the armies of heaven and bringing judgment (Rev 19:11-16).

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

  • “very large crowd” – The core came from Bethany and Bethphage. They had witnessed the resuscitation of Lazarus a couple months earlier (Jn 11:1-44). This was Jesus’ first public appearance since the miracle (Jn 11:54). Jerusalem was packed.
  • “spread their coats on the road” – ancient sign of submission and honor to royalty (cf. 2 Kings 9:13).
  • “cut branches” – John 12:13: “palm branches” which symbolized Jewish nationalism and victory and have appeared on many of Israel’s coins, both ancient and modern.
  • “Hosanna” – Hoshia-na, “Please save!” From the Messianic text Ps 118:25-26. Psalms 113-118 composed the Hallel, sung during the Feast of Tabernacles, Pentecost and Passover.

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

  • Matthew ends his account with this juxtaposition of two distinct groups:
  1. Those who welcomed him. Includes the blind and lame who “came to him” and were healed. It also includes the children who shouted praises to him.
  2. Those who rejected him. Chief priests and teachers of the law who complained about the kids’ responses.
  • These two groups are representative of all human and angelic responses to Jesus throughout salvation history. Obvious question to answer: which group are you in?

A quick walk through Holy Week or “Passion Week” (refer to handout)

  

Takeaway

This Holy Week, use the handout to follow in the steps of Jesus. Read the scriptures, reflect on what Jesus experienced and pray, asking for the grace to more closely walk with him.