It's Me Again God 2

114. Triumph and Victory

It's me again God,

I wonder what the weather was like on the first Palm Sunday? As a child I always pictured that it was a sunny day when Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, but the eyewitness accounts don't give us that information. I love the fact that You had more than one person who recorded the events of that day as each highlights different things. 

"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' " They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve."
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:1-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This seems like a very last minute parade and yet You planned it specially, knowing that the colt would be in that exact location at that time. Time was becoming short and You knew that very soon You would be arrested but first prophecy would be fulfilled:

"Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭9:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Luke records the way the people shouted out and why:

"When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:37-38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In Your three years of ministry Jesus, You had indeed performed many miracles —it was clear at this point that You were the king who came in the Name of the Lord God!  You were the Son of David, worthy of a hero's welcome and the tradition of making an impromptu red carpet of sorts! On this particular day, Matthew reports that the whole city was stirred:

"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.""
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:8-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The parade caused people to ask 'Who is this?' Finally it seemed like many knew who You were Jesus, by the way they praised You.  At last many were treating You with the respect and honour You deserved, but we know the rest of the story which was to unfold in the days ahead. It's hard to believe that things could change so quickly!

The Passover festival was nearing and John reports this in his account. He also is the one who gives the detail that the branches were indeed from palms:

"The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!""
‭‭John‬ ‭12:12-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It's important to note that at this time, the palm was a symbol of triumph and victory!  They were often used when battles were won and on this occasion they were being waved about by people who did not know that very soon You would win the victory and triumph over sin and death once and for all!

This reminder of the significance of the palm, representing triumph and victory makes this verse even more meaningful to me:

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;"
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭92:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thank You that through You Jesus, I am righteous and I will flourish like a palm tree - triumphant over sin and physical illness because You won the victory!

Thank You for this revelation today,
Amen.