April 2, 2023
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE Lord, even the King of Israel.” John 12:12-13 (NASB)
Today Christians all over the world celebrate Palm Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates the triumphal
entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the Sunday before His resurrection. The biblical narrative of the triumphal entry is one of the few incidents in the life of Jesus which appears in all four Gospel accounts in the New Testament: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19.
What is your favorite picture of the ministry and life of Jesus? I have several favorites – related to Jesus being on and off the cross. However, if I had to choose a number one favorite, I would have to select Jesus’ riding into Jerusalem because of what it symbolizes and its relevancy today.
By riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and symbolically presented Himself as the promised Messiah, who would come to save God’s people. Symbolically, it also has its roots in the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. Zechariah 9:9, says: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
It is the account of the King of Kings who came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not a prancing steed, not in royal robes, but on the clothes of the poor and humble. Riding in on a donkey was also significant because it was a peaceful mode of transportation, rather than a powerful horse that might have suggested a military conqueror.
Lastly, the donkey was a fitting symbol of Jesus’ mission, which was to bring peace and salvation to the world. The Gospel of Matthew describes how the crowds who witnessed Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem laid down their cloaks and palm branches before him, creating a carpet-like pathway. It was a sign of respect and honor, similar to the way kings were welcomed in ancient times.
Many times, in reading Scripture, I would often say to myself “I would have loved to experience what it would have been like to be able to walk with Jesus during His earthly ministry. How awesome would it have been to be there when He fed the five thousand, when He healed the blind man, and when the woman who had been suffering from a chronic bleeding issue for 12 years and after touching Jesus’s garment, she was made whole.
This triumphal entry is that of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on what we know as Palm Sunday, the Sunday before the crucifixion (John 12:1, 12). According to the Gospels, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the people greeted him by waving palm branches and spreading their cloaks on the road in front of him, shouting:
“Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Hosanna is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Word meaning “save now” or “save, we pray!
A HUMBLE 
HEART: Jesus, the King of Kings demonstrated the epitome of Humility by Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.
HOW WAS JESUS HUMBLE?
Jesus was King of Kings, yet in His royal procession, He rode on a donkey. Zechariah 9:9. Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey-even on a donkey’s colt.
Jesus had all the glory and honor, but for our sakes, he died so that we could be saved and have eternal life with him. Philippians 2:5-11. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form, he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus was God, yet he made himself nothing and suffered death on the cross for us. Hebrews 2:9. What we do see is Jesus, who “for a little while was made lower than the angels” and now is “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death for us. Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone in all the world.
Jesus is the ultimate role model of gentleness and humility. Matthew 11:29.Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.
How can we as Believers in Christ demonstrate humility? Unfortunately, some people try to give the appearance of humility in order to manipulate others. Others think that humility means putting themselves down. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realize their sinfulness, and understand their limitations. On the other hand, they also recognize their gifts and strengths and are willing to use them as Christ directs. Humility is not self-degradation; it is a genuine and realistic assessment and commitment to serve. It is an honest recognition of our own worth, our worth as God sees us.
FATHER GOD: Thank You for teaching us what TRUE HUMILITY really is. Help us to represent you well by demonstrating genuine humility, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!
