Canyon Ministries

Passion Week Meditations — Day 1: Palm Sunday

Children run alongside the donkey carrying a man everyone recognizes. He had raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11) not many days ago. Crowds of people gather and join the procession (Matthew 21). Their shouts ring out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9 ESV) — phrases taken right out of Psalm 118:22–29. “Hosanna” in Hebrew means “Do save!” This is their long-awaited King, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.

From Bethany, the procession moves to the top of the Mount of Olives. People cast their cloaks and palm branches on the ground ahead of the donkey. Jesus looks westward over Jerusalem and weeps over their rejection and the destruction it would bring upon them just a few decades later. They look for a king to deliver them from their political enemies (Zechariah 9:10), not one who will save them from their sins.

Pharisees in the crowd shout at Him to command His followers to be quiet. Jesus responds, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Down the mountain into the Kidron Valley He rides — reversing the route King David took as he fled from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15). Within the Kidron Valley, the spring of Gihon flows from the side of Jerusalem’s hill. That’s where David’s son Solomon arrived on his father’s mule to be proclaimed king. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon and the assembled people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” (1 Kings 1:32–40).

As Solomon rode into Jerusalem the people were playing flutes, rejoicing, and shouting “so that the earth shook at their noise.” Now Jesus rides across this same valley and on up into the city of Jerusalem — atop the clothing, the palm fronds, and the leafy branches, and surrounded by the people’s loud welcome.

Jesus enters the temple and heals the blind and the lame who come to Him. Children continue to call out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” In response to the unbelieving in the crowd who cannot accept the children’s announcements, Jesus asks them if they ever read Psalm 8:2, “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise” (Matthew 21:16).

On what we call Palm Sunday, King Jesus rode across the Mount of Olives, down into the Kidron Valley, and then up into Jerusalem and into the temple. No prophet to anoint Him — the Jews had killed them. No priest to anoint Him — they opposed Him. No one seemed to realize who He really was and what He actually came to accomplish.

He was, and is, the Creator of all things (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16). He created mountains and valleys through which He would ride. He created the trees with whose branches the people created a path for Him to ride over. He created the rocks, which praise their Creator should the children fall silent. He created the animals like the one He rode upon that day. He created humankind, so He’s fully able to restore sight to the blind and walking to the lame.

He was, and is, the Ruler of all, the Sovereign Lord of all. He appoints rulers and removes rulers. However, He is so much more. He is Savior. He came to deliver people from their sins (Matthew 1:21; John 3:16–17).

On this first day of Passion Week, what do you think of Jesus?  What reception will you give Him in your heart and life?  Come, follow Him during His final week on earth.

— Dr. Bill Barrick