March 29, 2015

by Lorri Givens

John 12:12-16

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
    the King of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:

“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

In January of 2009, I was blessed to be able to travel to the Holy Land with my father.  What an amazing trip it was to walk where Jesus walked and see so many historic sites mentioned in the Bible.  The scripture above speaks of the events on Palm Sunday.  Even today, thousands of people from all over the world flock to the Holy Land to celebrate in this tremendous spiritual experience. 

More than 150,000 Christian pilgrims from many denominations, cultures and countries all unite to recall that first Palm Sunday.  This celebration begins with prayer services at Bethpage and continues the tremendously hilly journey across the Mount of Olives, down through the Garden of Gethsemane, passing through the Kedron Valley and through the old walled city of Jerusalem. The walk concludes at the Pool of Bethesda.  Visualize thousands of people dressed in their native dress, waving palm branches all singing their faith to the same melody, but in many different languages!

Jesus knew that this day was just a prelude of what was to come.  Within a matter of days the crowd went from “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” to “Crucify Him!” 

Our heavenly Father gave his only Son to die for us for our sins.  It really makes me stop and wonder what a tremendous sacrifice that was!  This Easter season, let’s stop and be grateful for our gift of life.  God has given us the ability to go and share with others his news, the Good News!  Go forth and share the love of Christ to others in everything we do.  Now that is worth shouting Hosanna!