Introduction to the Palm Sunday Mysteries
Note: All scripture references used are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.
Introduction
On April 6, AD 32, Jesus, with much fanfare, triumphantly rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey. This is the only time in the gospels that Jesus does not travel (on land) by foot. Why? What is happening here? What does it mean?
Why This Event Is Called "Palm Sunday"
The Triumphal Entry was a celebratory parade into Jerusalem that was bold. loud, and unexpected. This event is also known as Palm Sunday because many people waved palm branches and laid them in the pathway as the "parade" approached Jerusalem.
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!” John 12:12-13
The Palm Tree - Rest, Peace, and Healing
The palm tree represents victory, peace, rest. and healing. The first mention of the palm tree in Exodus 15 is very interesting. After bringing the children of Israel through the Red Sea. they entered the desert with trepidation and fear. They find rest at Elim where there is fresh water and 70 palm trees! It is here where God reveals Himself as Jehovah Râphâh(The Lord that heals you).
Exodus 15:25-27
25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.
Before we uncover the mysteries of Palm Sunday, it is important to acquire a sense of what this event was like. Please watch the movie clips below!
Ten Highlights Of Palm Sunday
it is important to take some time to consider the key aspects of Palm Sunday (listed below). We will take a close look at these events throughout this course. The list has been compiled from Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:26-44, and John 12:12-19.
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Jesus sends two disciples to find a tied-up donkey and her colt Mark 11:1-3
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When people hear that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem, they go out to praise Him John 12:12-13
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The disciples find the animals and get permission to bring them to Jesus Mark 11:4-6
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As prophesied, Jesus mounts the colt and begins His journey from Bethphage to Jerusalem John 12:12-`5
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People join the processional, praising Jesus, waving and tossing palm branches in the pathway
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Some Pharisees tell Jesus to stop the shouts and praise of the crowd Luke 19:39
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Jesus responds by saying if they stop, "...the stones will cry out" Luke 19:40
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Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and prophesies its coming destruction! Luke 19:41-44
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The large, loud processional enters Jerusalem to the chagrin of the religious leaders John12:17-19
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Late in the day, Jesus enters the temple, observes what is going on there, and returns to Bethany Mark 11:11
A Living Parable
The Triumphal Entry was a living parable. Instead of telling a story, Jesus "speaks" through a pageant presented "live" and in living color! Like all parables, there are mysteries hidden here that God wants us to discover. When we prayerfully and diligently seek to find the story behind the story, God reveals the secrets to us. These revelations bless and stregthen us as we walk with the Lord.
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the [secrets or hidden truths] of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
The Mysteries of Palm Sunday
As this course progresses, We will discover:
why the Palm Sunday parade was necessary
why Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on that particular day
Why Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey
why Jesus said, "the rucks will cry out"
why Jesus prophesied the city of Jerusalem and the Temple were going to be destroyed
God's plan to redeem all of mankind,
how much God loves His creation!
Next: Take the Quiz
After carefully reading this article and related scripture, take Quiz #1 to gague what you have learned so far.