Palm Sunday: who, where, why, what, when and other sundry facts…

450-500 years before Christ, a prophecy was made in the book of Zechariah, chapter 9:9 concerning this “day” and the activities that caused it to be called ‘Palm’ Sunday.  Christ was standing on the place called The Mount of Olives when he sent his disciples into a nearby village for an ass and her young colt.  Zechariah 14:4 also has the LORD standing there again in the ‘Day of the LORD’.

Zec. 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, [righteous] and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 

Song - Zep. 3:14  

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad
Sing, O daughter of Zion; and rejoice with all thine heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem.
For the LORD hath taken away thy judgments,
He hath cast out thine enemy:
The king of Israel, even the LORD,
is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

Song – Zep. 3:17  

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; is mighty;
He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; with joy;
He will rest in his love,
He will joy over thee with singing.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; is mighty; is mighty.

The ‘first mention’ of an ass is Genesis 22:3 when Abraham saddles an ass and takes wood and his son to Mt. Moriah, to be sacrificed. The spot is where the Temple would be built in what would become Jerusalem.  The Temple was where Jesus was headed on the morning that he sat on the young colt of the ass mentioned in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19 and John 12.

But why did the people begin to throw down their clothes and wave palm branches and shout? Jesus had no economic, military or political power.

1. 2 Kings 9:12-13 [laid down their garments for ‘king’]
2. Daniel 9:2 & 24-27 [Daniels vision of seventy sevens]
3. Leviticus 23:40, Neh. 8:15-16,  [palm branches and tree boughs]
4. Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.  And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. 
5. It was just after this event that Christ was heading for Jerusalem.  So the formerly blind followers brought the testimony and probably the chant – fulfilling both Zephaniah and Zechariah’s prophecy.  Mat. 21:8-9 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.  And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 
6. Psalm 118:26 & Psalm 148:1 [each Gospel has a slightly different saying]
7. Jesus began questioning the Pharisees regarding these sayings: See Matthew 23:41-46.

Some other interesting scriptures concerning “an ass” [72 verses in the OT] include Genesis 49:11 and Isaiah 63:2 are very similar scriptures and difficult to understand.

 In 1 Samuel chapter 9 - 10:1-3, it is interesting that the whole “caper” around Saul being crowned the first King of Israel centered on him finding his father’s lost asses. 9:3 “And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost.”

See the end of the story in 1 Sam. 10:3. “…one carrying 3 kids, and another carrying 3 loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.”  In 1 Sam. 16:20 when David is bringing food from his father to King Saul: “And Jesse took an ass laden with bread and a bottle of wine and a kid and sent them by David his son unto Saul.”

Exodus 13:13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.   Also see Numbers 22 regarding Balaam and his ass speaking!

Entering a city on a horse symbolizes war and a conquering power. Entering the city on a donkey, Christ symbolized gentleness, Peace, and revealed no pressure, power or might other than love! Christ had read, knew what he was walking into:

Isa 50:6-10  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.  He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? Let us stand together: who is mine adversary? Let him come near to me.  Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.  Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 

May you joy and rejoice in knowing how steadfast and confident Christ was as he entered Jerusalem on that young donkey, moving into the final battle of your Redemption, Restoration, Peace and Righteousness: loving you with all his heart, mind, will, soul and strength…to the very end!   And we KNOW our end is only the true beginning.