INTRODUCTION |
Last Sunday is traditionally known as Palm Sunday. It is the day to commemorate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem during the feast of Passover, one of the most important feasts of Israel to remember and celebrate Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt by the mighty hand of God. During this festival hundreds of thousands of Jews and Gentile worshippers would travel up to Jerusalem to worship God in the temple.
John 11 records that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead for four days. With this sign, and many other miracles which He performed, many believed that He was the promised Messiah, the King of Israel. The crowd welcomed Him, laying their clothes and palm branches before Him shouting, “Hosanna!” as He came into Jerusalem riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey. And Jesus, knowing that His time had come to suffer and die as the Passover Lamb of God, openly presented Himself as the King of Israel amidst crowds of people.