Palm Sunday
Jesus and a new exodus!
Passover / Pesach, the first feast of the calendar
Ex . 12: 1-2 Passover begins at full moon in the Jewish calendar’s first month of Nisan, which in our Gregorian calendar is March / April.
The first month is called Nisan by Babylonian descent but in Biblical Hebrew it is simply called month 1 and also known by its Jewish name the month of abib.
The 10th day of Nisan/ Abib was the starting point for the Jewish Passover and we will look at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday.
John 12: 13 They took brances of palm trees and went forth to meet him and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the king of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord.
Lazarus has just been raised from the dead, Jesus has just been anointed on his head and feet by Marys ointment of spikenard and now he enters as king into Jerusalem on a donkey, starting a new Exodus story for us.
Jesus rides into Jerusalem as the end-time king and lets himself be hailed as the Messiah, by the people, the crowd was excited, the Jewish authorities were beside themselves and wanted both Jesus and Lazarus killed. John 12:10-11 many had heard about Jesus and the many miracles.
Pilgrims came to the city in their thousands to take part in the Passover / Pesach festival, remembering the deliverance from Egypt.
But who noticed that at the same time the shepherds led the chosen sacrificial lambs that were in the field from Migdal Eder to Bethlehem, it was the 10th of Nisan, also what we call Palm Sunday, it was the day they had to choose a sacrificial lamb and then take it to Jerusalem. A Passover lamb.
Hosanna which means Save us and in Hebrew origin hosanna is yasa and means to save or be delivered, to be victorious in battle, to give victory, rescue, defend, safe. The people was waiting for a savior once again, just like the time of slavery in Egypt.
When Jesus was riding into Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan the People rejoiced with loud shouts and cheers, Hosanna ( Save us ) to the King of the Most High, they were on the very same day choosing their sacrificial lamb for Passover. When in fact also choosing Jesus to be their redeemer, who was a lamb without spot or blemish. 1 pet, 18-21
Only the Passover lamb could redeem them from Egypt, and now the true Passover lamb, Gods son without any blemish, was selected to free them.
It caused great astonishment, is he the one they are waiting for? their Messiah? But for the Jewish leaders it caused rebellion and Jesus is therefore measured and weighed, they search with light and lamp to see if they can find any faults in him. Even the pagan Pilate tests him, but finds him innocent.
The Lamb of God
The lamb was selected and inspected on 10-14 Nisan
Exodus 12; The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt:
This month shall be the beginning of all months. The first month of your year. Say to all the congregation of Israel: On the tenth day of this month you shall take a lamb or a kid to every household in the house of the fathers. If a household is too small for one animal, it must share one animal with the nearest neighbor according to the number of people; You must calculate it according to what each person can eat. It must be a year-old male without defect, you can take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall take care of it until the fourteenth day of this month. Then all the congregation of Israel shall slaughter it, just before darkness falls.
Select a lamb without blemish, the message they received in Egypt approx. 1500 years before Palm Sunday. 2 moss 12:3, 6
The lamb that would save all the firstborn boys from death, and deliver all who were under the blood to deliverance from all slavery and oppression of the land of Egypt and its ruler Pharaoh.
John the Baptist said: Behold, the Lamb of God who comes, to take away the sin of the world. John.1:29
In John 12:1 Jesus comes to the city of Bethany: meaning house of misery or house of dates, 6 days before Passover, since the Passover sacrifice is on the 14th of Nisan, it could mean that Jesus comes to Bethany on the 9th of Nisan.
In John 12:12-13 It says that Jesus the next day, the 10th of Nisan, rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.
It is exactly the same day, the 10th of Nisan, when the Jews had to select their Passover sacrificial lamb without fault. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the people shouted Hosanna, they chose the Passover lamb, the one they wanted to free them from their captivity, and without knowing it, He is the only sacrificial lamb that can save them.
Jesus with all the fullness of God in his body, was soon to meet the serpent, Pharaoh to destroy his works.
Quick overview:
10 Nisan – A silent lamb is chosen
10 Nisan – Jesus is chosen as the lamb of the people.
10-14 Nisan – Testing the Lamb
The sacrificial lamb had to be observed for 5 days to ensure there were no defects on the lamb.
During the 5 days the lamb had to live in their home and was tested and observed for faults, just imagine the love some people got for this beautiful and cute little lamb
10-14 Nisan – Jesus is tested
Jesus was observed and tested for 5 days by the people and the religious leaders.
14 Nisan – Must slaughter the Lamb
On the 5th day, the 14th of Nisan, the lamb had to be slaughtered and the blood smeared on the doorposts in Egypt and later in Jerusalem on the altar.
14 Nisan – Jesus dies on the Cross
On the 14th of Nisan and at the same time as the lambs were slaughtered, Jesus died on the cross!
Jesus fulfills himself as the ultimate reality of the feast of Passover, the Passover lamb.
The king and Palm branches
the meaning of palm branches
For many years Israel lived without a king. Many different leaders had tried to rule the country, and Israel was occupied by the Romans.
Israel dreamed that a great king would come and set them free from the occupation and rule they were under.
In the Bible you see this repetition over and over again of people who are oppressed and under a ruler, it is no different today, people’s eternal hunt and search for peace whether it is in a country, in a relationship in self or whatever it is.
A picture of what God’s adversary wants to do to his people.
The ancient prophets had foretold that a new king would come so the people waited with longing for it.
Jesus had come to defeat a much greater enemy than the Romans, even though they had taken over an enormous number of countries and were seen as a mighty ruler. Jesus’ victory would go far beyond the boundaries of this life.
Jesus came to defeat the enemy of our souls, Satan. Jesus came to conquer the power of sin and death.
Jerusalem was also called the city of the great king, but Jesus wept over it as he looked upon it.
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was the official way of showing himself as the Messiah, the King of Israel.
It is the king who comes with salvation and it is the king who will be their salvation, but not by military force over political enemies.
It is clearly no coincidence that John emphasizes that it is palm leaves that are used, with all the image of the garden of Eden, the promised land, wisdom, justice, restoration, We salute the King of the Garden of Eden. Jerusalem’s new King, the King of the City of Peace!
Palm leaves serve as a recognition of royalty, are said to symbolize victory, triumph, peace and eternal life.
Palm leaves are seen everywhere on the walls of the Tabernacle and Temple, thus an image of the Garden of Eden, the promised land.
Palm trees are often seen together with Cherubim, lions, rivers, the tabernacle, the temple, the feasts of the Lord, it is a picture of the Garden of Eden.
Deborah sat under a palm tree, Israel was to come to her for judgment
Jericho, the Promised Land, is called the City of Palms. Deut. 34:3
God blesses the Israelites with water and 70 palm trees. Ex. 15:27
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. Psalms. 92:12
On the very first of Gods feasts and last feast, it begins and ends with palms branches:
Jesus’ entrance on Palm Sunday at the beginning of the feasts and at the end of Sukkot / Tabernacles, which is the last feast in the feast calendar, palm leaves are waved. Sukkot / Tabernacles is the feast where God finally dwells with his people.
Palm leaves are described in Rev. 7:9 as the saved crowd, as a motley gathering of all nations. They are dressed in white robes and stand with palm branches in their hands and sing praises.
The book of the Bible:
It all starts in a garden all the way back to the beginning and first page and it ends in a garden, when Jesus rose from the dead. The curse has now become a blessing! The very last pages of bible is the new Jerusalem, a new garden.
The donkey on Palm Sunday
Horses = at war - Donkey = comes with peace
Jesus asked 2 disciples, to bring a donkey, it was a mother and her foal.
To us it seems strange, but in Jesus’ time kings rode donkeys. Genesis 49: 10-11
In Deborah’s song about military victory over God’s enemies, she sings about the wealthy who ride white donkeys and sit on rich carpets Judges 5:10
In the Bible, the donkey is a picture of several things, but strangely enough also royalty, where the horse is used in war, the donkey is a picture of coming with peace, so if Jesus had come on a horse, he would have indicated war. Think about what he rides when he comes again! ( A white horse )
By riding a donkey, Jesus shows what kind of messiah he is, He comes with shalom peace.
Abraham and Isaac had a donkey with them when they went to Mount Moriah, where Isaac was to be sacrificed. Genesis 22:5
Moses, took his wife and children on a donkey when they went to Egypt.
Funny enough, we don’t know if Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem, it doesn’t say, but it could be 🙂
Robes were also used for a king in 2 Kings 9:13
Interesting to think that Saul, who failed to be king, looked for his father’s lost donkeys, but never rode them.
Absalom and Adonaiah King David’s rebellious sons:
Absalom rides a mule (half donkey and half horse) in an attempt to take the throne.
Adonaiah got chariots and horses and 50 men to go before him.
Solomon rode David’s mule when he was to be crowned king. 1 Kings 1: 38 -40
In the Bible we see that donkeys carry the Messiah, Kings, Prophets, the wounded, bread and food.
Donkeys carry something the people really need!
Zech 9:9 an important Bible verse in this context and which the gospels refer to:
Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion, shout loudly, daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey
Behold, your salvation comes!
So the next time you meet a donkey, show some respect, it comes with the authority of God. LOL 🙂
Hosanna
The meaning of Hosanna
Hosanna means: Save us, Save now = Save we pray
Jesus’ name in Hebrew means God is Salvation and that is what we all need.
John 12:13 Hosanna, blessed be the King of Israel!
Matt 21:9 and Mark 11:9-10 Hosanna, blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, please save us – is also used in the 7th feast sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles. John 7:37
You in the highest heaven, please set us free.
It is fascinating to think that, on the last and greatest day, the priests walked around the altar 7 times and shouted with the full force of their lungs Hosanna SAVE US LORD!
Hosanna is therefore used at the beginning and at the end of the 7 feasts of the Lord.
Jesus’ triumphal procession was a journey of victory, but the path to victory was through humility and suffering.
Jesus enters the city knowing that this journey will end with his sacrificial death for the sins of humanity, to once again be united in a new city of peace and salvation.
How to teach kids about Palm Sunday
Take a lamb and place it on a table where everyone can see it, put palm branches around it, let it be a centerpiece for a few days.
Take time to read from Exodus 12:1-6
– Talk about:
1. What days was the lamb to be chosen and slaughtered?
2. Everyone is to take a lamb, put that everyone who and how many in history had to take a lamb.
3. spotless, without fault, without sin like Jesus
4. It was loved for days before it was to be sacrificed.
5. Also talk about what John says: Behold the Lamb of God comes
6. Talk about the donkey that was tied and set free.
7. Meaning of the Palm Leaves
8. What does hosanna mean? And what meaning did it have for them and for us today.
