Sunday, March 20, 2016 - Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 20, 2016 - Palm Sunday “Jesus Causes a Stir” - Matthew 21:1-11 The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was a treacherous one, through difficult passes, and climbing from near the Dead Sea at 1300 feet below sea level, to the peak of the Mount of Olives at 2700 feet above sea level (a climb of 4000 feet) in about 25 miles. To avoid Samaria Jews from the region of Galilee would travel south along the east bank of the Jordan River, about 65 miles, then cross the river at Jericho, and proceed west up to Jerusalem, the religious capital of Judaism. Large groups would make this journey together at the time of the Passover. It is possible that several hundred pilgrims were accompanying Jesus as He made His way to the feast. They saw His miracles and were amazed by Him. As the entourage passed through Bethany, the town of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and approached Bethphage at the top of the Mount of Olives, Jesus pauses long enough to send two disciples on an errand - to go into the village and get a donkey's colt, in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. The people travelling with Jesus were religious enough to make the connection - Jesus is riding the donkey's young colt, so He must be the king! The crowd is frenzied as Jesus gets on the beast, and they throw their outer garments on the road before Him, with palm branches, and begin crying out the words of honor reserved for a king - "Hosanna, Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the heavens!" The crowd leads Jesus the mile or so of road down the Mount of Olives, past the Garden of Gethsemane, and across the bottom of the valley, up the winding road through the gate into the temple precinct.
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