Though I have visited the Holy Land for over twenty years, I have only celebrated Palm Sunday in Jerusalem twice. This was back in the day when our travel group numbered over forty. The years were 2000 and 2007, and I was much younger and more energetic. I remember meeting the procession of a large group of pilgrims taking the same path as Jesus as He rode in on the donkey. There was a long passage leading to the Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery. Going down to the Old City was fine, but it was the trek back that really wore us out. Years ago we rarely took a taxi into the Old City because we were physically fit to walk and safety was not an issue at that time.
Palm Sunday was like a celebration as free-spirited individuals gathered to usher in the Lord’s triumphal entry. The crowd got thicker as we made our way into the Old City through the Lion’s Gate. The music was cheerful and people were dancing and playing tambourines. I was caught up in the joyous moment and imagined how it was in the times of Jesus and how He was welcomed with great jubilance. Thank God our group was wearing matching baseball caps and red teeshirts; otherwise we could have easily been separated. This was the longest time that I was away from home; this trip was twenty-one days long.
Palm Sunday
All four Gospels mention Palm Sunday, which is also known as Passion Sunday. This is the first day of Holy Week.
Matthew 21:1-11 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 21
The Entry into Jerusalem.1 When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her.Untie them and bring them here to me. 3 And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” 4This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
5 “Say to daughter Zion,
‘Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. 7 They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. 8The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. 9 The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”
10 And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Why did Jesus ask His disciples to bring Him a colt? This was done to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. Riding in on a lowly animal is a symbol of peace. There were plenty of horses in the time of Jesus, but they were used for war. The donkey was a connection to the common people. The Jews were under Roman rule; they were hated by Rome. The Romans treated them with great contempt. Jesus came as a humble king to serve and save the oppressed. No one had sat on the colt because it was the right of the King to do this first.
In verse seven, the people spread their cloaks over the animals because this was a tradition of the Israelite kingship to reestablish a Davidic line. It’s also important to understand that there were two Jewish groups: the Jews who joined Jesus for His triumphal entry and the Jews who lived in Jerusalem. The Jews who lived in Jerusalem knew very little if anything about Jesus; these were the ones who joined forces with the Romans to demand Jesus’ crucifixion. Peter was recognized by his Galilean accent when he denied Jesus. (Matthew 26:73)
Events of Holy Week
Monday
Jesus curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit. What good are we if we are not bearing fruit, or if our fruit is tasteless? As a disciple of Jesus, we should always bear good fruit.
Tuesday
The chief priest, scribes and Pharisees form a pack against Jesus and attempt to entrap Him. Jesus ignores their attacks because He is sharing several parables, “The Two Sons,” “The Tenant,” and “The Wedding Feast.”
Wednesday
Jesus is anointed with an expensive jar of perfumed oil. Then He tells His disciples that this act was to prepare Him for His burial.
Holy Thursday
In the Upper Room of the Old City, Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. While they are eating the Last Supper, Jesus announces that one of them will betray Him. Jesus took the bread and wine and instituted the Holy Eucharist. Peter denies Jesus three times.
Good Friday
Jesus is taken to Pilate, where He will be given His Cross. Our Lord carries His Cross down the Via Dolorosa. Jesus dies on the Cross.
Holy Saturday
The chief priest requests that a guard be placed at the tomb of Jesus. The guarded tomb is secured and sealed. This was done so that Jesus’ body could not be stolen, allowing His disciples to later claim that He had risen from the dead.
Easter Sunday
Alleluia, Christ the Lord is Risen!
My Prayer
Dear Lord, may we all experience this Holy Week in great reverence. May we hold in our hearts this Holy Week and all that You had to endure for us. Lord, we look to You for all of our emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. Help us to draw closer to You during this Holy Week. Wash our feet so that our path toward You will remain pure. May we never betray or deny Your holy existence. Lord, I pray for millions of conversions; bring in the wandering sheep and offer them hope in this world of the lost. I continue to lift up all those who are suffering from illnesses, mental disorders, and loneliness. Dear Jesus, please put an end to the war in Ukraine. Amen
