Palm Sunday / Shabbat ha gadol
Palm sunday explained
Passover / Pesach, the first feast of the calendar
The 10th day of the first month was the starting point for the Jewish Passover and we will look at what Jesus did on that exact day. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday.
Lazarus has just been raised from the dead, Jesus has just been anointed on his head and feet by Mary´s 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 a 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.
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.
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 at 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
In the Jewish calendar, Passover begins at full moon in the first month called 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 name the month of abib, a cananite name also used by the Jews. A modern hebrew word used for spring and means freshly buddet barley or Ear of a corn or fresh green. So the barley is not ripe yet or edible.
Month of green barley ears and the first of months.
After the Babylonian exile the month came to be called Nisan Ezra 6:15
Israel’s early rhythm remains rooted in agricultural realities ordained by God.
The barley offering of Firstfruits followed on the day after the Sabbath within that week. Lev. 23:10-11
Jesus Christ, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 cor. 15:20
Det.16:1
“Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib He brought you out of Egypt by night.
Ex 13:4 The departure of the Israelites from Egypt is recorded: “Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving.
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, they must share the 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 a 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 lamb is chosen
10 Nisan – Jesus is chosen by the people.
10-14 Nisan – The Lamb is tested
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.
10-14 Nisan – Jesus is tested
Jesus was observed and tested for 5 days by the people and the religious leaders.
14 Nisan – Lamb is sacrifired
On the 5th day, the 14th of Nisan, the lamb had to be slaughtered, the blood smeared on the doorposts in Egypt and later in Jerusalem on the altar.
14 Nisan – Jesus is sacrified
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
The ancient prophets had foretold that a new king would come so the people waited with longing for it. For many years Israel lived without a king and many different leaders had tried to rule the nation. Israel was occupied by the Romans. Israel dreamed that a great king would come and set them free from the occupation and the rule they were under.
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 their biggest enemy, Satan. To conquer over the power of sin and death, one that humans did not have the power over.
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, the eternal hunt and search for peace.
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, we will see how later.
A king who comes with salvation, but not by military force or over political enemies.
It is clearly no coincidence that the book of John emphasizes that it is palm leaves that are used. 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, they 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 getting good judgment there.
Jericho, the Promised Land, is called the City of Palms. Deut. 34:3
God blesses the Israelites with water and 70 palm trees. in Ex. 15:27 a picture of Gods provision.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. Psalms. 92:12
On the very first of Gods feasts and on the last feast, it begins and ends with palms branches:
- At the beginning of the feasts Jesus’ entrance on Palm Sunday, Palm leaves are waved and used.
- At the last feast, the end of Sukkot / Tabernacles, palm leaves are waved and used
Sukkot / Tabernacles is the feast where God finally dwells with his people.
So the story starts with Palm leaves and the story ends with Palm leaves 🙂
In the beginning it all starts in a garden, but Gods people are exiled from Eden and the ground cursed. When Jesus rises from the dead get out from a garden tomb, he ends it in a garden and makes it a reality of a new and restored garden coming, a blessed and fruitful land.
The curse has now become a blessing!
The very last pages of bible is the new Jerusalem, a new garden.
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 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 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. Just like the Palm leaves.
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.
