Palm Sunday - A Last Days Perspective*

Palm Sunday is not just a past event that happened in Jerusalem, or a church event when you receive a palm branch. It is an Old Testament prophetic event that was foretold by the Prophet Zechariah, a past New Testament event fulfilled by Jesus in His entrance into Jerusalem before His crucifixion on Passover, a current event, as it affects our hearts and our salvation today, and it is an event that has a meaning in the last days, as we will see. This is the prophecy of Zechariah: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zech. 9:9). We will see that this prophecy was fulfilled exactly as Jesus came into Jerusalem. However, before this event, Jesus had something to teach about the salvation that He was bringing. Someone asked Him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" Jewsus answered that many will seek to enter in, but will not be able. He also said, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate (one of the eight gates into the city of Jerusalem, also known as the Mercy Gate, the Golden Gate, the Beautiful Gate, and the easternmost gate)." The Greek word for "strait" is stenos/histemi, meaning "narrowed from obstacles/to stand, to be kept intact, to escape in safety, to cause a person to keep his place". Jesus warned that once the master closes this door of entrance, anyone seeking to come in afterwards will be told "I know you not whence you are." (Lk. 13:22-25). Even if they claim to have eaten with Him, and heard His teaching, if they have not come through that strait gate, the only way of mercy and salvation, they will not be able to enter in, but are thrust out. "And behold, there are last which shall be first, and first which shall be last." (v. 26-30). Jesus added that every prophet perished in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, which should have known their God, stoned the prophets that were sent to them. Jesus, who knew He also would face His death in Jerusalem, said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not? Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (v. 33-35). Jerusalem, the city of the temple of God, refused the protection of the Savior. Before entering Jerusalem, Jesus stopped at Bethphage, and instructed His disciples to enter into the village, and they would find an ass and colt tied. They were to tell the owner that the master had need of them, and the owner would send them immediately. All of this was done to fulfill what the prophet Zechariah prophesied above. Garments and branches were spread on the road, and multitudes went before and behind Jesus crying, "...Hosanna to the Son od David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." (Mt. 21:1-9). Although this is a prophetically identifying cry, the question was asked, "Who is this?" The answer was given, "Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." (v. 11). Immediately after His entrance into Jerusalem, Jesus threw out with authority those buying and selling in the temple, and cleansed it. What are we allowing to be bought and sold in our living temple? He healed the blind and the lame there in the temple also. Do we believe in the Miracle Worker who comes in the name of the Lord? Children again cried out in the temple of Jerusalem, saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David." (v. 15). When the chief priests and scribes saw and heard these things that identified the Messiah, "...they were sore displeased," and Jesus reminded them of the identifying scripture that prophesied, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." (v. 16). How many signs of the timing of the Lord prophesied in scripture are Christians ignoring - feast days, lunar cycles - that testify of Christ and His return? Babes in Christ are re-discovering these things and accepting their prophetic truth, and rejoicing in them, more so than long-established Christians. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, multitudes followed Him, meeting Him with palm branches, and crying out as He entered Jerusalem, "Hosanna: Blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." However, the knowledgeable Pharisees, knowing what these cries and palms meant, became fearful, saying, "...behold, the world is gone after him." (Jn. 12:9-19). Not only would they seek an opportunity to kill Jesus, but also Lazarus, whom He raised. About these Pharisees, Jesus said, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." (Mt. 23:1-3). They sit in seats of religious authority, Jesus said. They know the scriptures. They understand the prophecies that have been given by God, but they themselves do not do them. Instead, they lay heavy religious burdens upon the people. They put on religious displays in clothing and custom, and love the places of honor given to them. They love being addressed as "Rabbi", while rejecting the only true Teacher and Master, which is Christ (v. 4-10). Jesus said that these practices of the scribes and Pharisees did not reflect the kingdom of God where "...he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (v. 11-12). Jesus further said that woe would come to the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and pretence. He said that they make victims of the weak, and teach others to become children of hell and damnation, rather than children of God. (v. 13-15). Jesus called them "blind guides" (v. 24). They look clean on the outside, but inside, they are full of extortion, excess, and uncleanness (v. 25-28). He concluded speaking to them, saying, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (v. 33). How terrible it is if what we are showing and teaching to others, like the scribes and Pharisees, is causing them to miss God, rather than to find Him! Are we hearing and understanding in our walk what the shouts of "Hosanna: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!", really mean? The Prophet Hosea wrote the Word of the Lord concerning God's people, and the end times: "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days." (Hos. 3:4-5). While Jesus did not declare Himself an earthly king, the prophetic cries of Palm Sunday, and His entrance, declare His Kingship. This was yet another stumbling block for those like the scribes, chief priests, and Pharisees who were very familiar with the Kingship of the Messiah. It can also be a stumbling block for believers today. Who have we made kings in our lives? Have we made politicians, and government our kings? Many believers have followed after politicians making certain promises as one would follow a king. There is only one King, Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of God. We see again the attitude of the religious experts as Jesus was examined before Pontius Pilate. Jesus was accused before Pilate by the Jewish leaders of calling Himself the Son of God. This caused Pilate more fear, and he questioned Jesus again. Hearing His answer, Pilate sought to release Jesus, but again the Jewish religious leaders falsely said to Pilate, who had been appointed by the Roman Emperor, that Jesus had made Himself a king in opposition to Cesar. This was taking place as Passover approached. Pilate presented Jesus to the religious leaders saying, "Behold, your king...Shall I crucify your king?" But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him." The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Cesar." And so Jesus was delivered to be crucified. (Jn. 19:7-16). Like those religious leaders, many, including those in the church, desire a king who will give them what they want. Many political leaders come to the church to use it for political and monetary gain. As we read in Jesus' warning earlier, there will come a point in time when the master of the house will shut the door, even as God shut the door to Noah's ark, and many will knock then, but will receive the answer, "I don't know you." We only have so much time to bring the lost into the ark before the door is shut. What is Palm Sunday declaring to you? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/10/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.