| JESUS' ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM |
| Only a few days before his betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus is greeted as the Messiah by a cheering crowd. |
| Crowds gathering in Jerusalem to celebrate the annual Passover festival were overjoyed when they caught sight of Jesus riding a donkey through the city gates. They had heard of Jesus' miracles, including his raising of Lazarus from the dead. And now Jesus was entering Jerusalem exactly as Zechariah had prophesied the Messiah would come: "Lo, your king comes to you triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey" (Zech 9:9). |
| Believing that Jesus was the promised Messiah who would restore the freedom and glory of Israel, the crowds eagerly rushed toward him shouting "Hosanna," which means "save us" in Hebrew. They then gathered around, repeating the words of a psalm: "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" (Ps 118:25-26). |
| People carpeted Jesus' path with cloaks and leafy branches, as Israelites had done for their kings in ages past. They also waved palms, which had served as flags for Israel and symbolized joy and victory. |
| Some Jews, however, were not celebrating. They were afraid that they were witnessing the beginnings of a revolution that the Romans would put down cruelly. They pleaded with Jesus, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop" (Lk 19:39). But Jesus refused: this moment of recognition and praise was meant to be. A few days later Jesus was arrested, and the crowds were calling out to have him crucified. |
| Did you know? Jesus' procession into Jerusalem came to be known as the Triumphal Entry. It is celebrated each year on the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday. |
| Copyright: Grolier Inc. MCMXCVI Location: http://www.oocities.org/gacbloomington/palmsunday.html Updated: 10/25/2001 |
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