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Palm Sunday is coming up! That day marks the beginning of the quick succession of events leading to Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

Just before going to Jerusalem, Jesus paused and told His disciples to go into a nearby village where they would find a donkey and her unbroken, never ridden colt. He told the disciples to bring the donkeys to Him, and if anyone asked about them the disciples were to say that the Lord needed them. (Matthew 21:1-3)

Jesus mounted the untrained donkey. That in itself must have been interesting to see, since I would assume that the donkey was quite calm with the Creator around. Then Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem. This is important. Back in the Old Testament, it talks about the King coming on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-5). Jesus is the King, and He was claiming it!

The people knew this, and so greeted Jesus with great enthusiasm! They took off their coats and put them down in the street for the donkey to walk over. This was a sign of great respect. The people also took branches from trees and put them in the street. I wonder what the trees looked like afterwards. Regardless, the people treated this event as important. They cried out, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

It was such a big event, that later when Jesus was in the temple, the priests disapprovingly told Him that there were children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the son of David!” (Matthew 21:15-16) What I picture here may not be exactly right, but I picture children running about with palm leaves, re-enacting part of Jesus’ entry. Some of them may not have understood the significance, but I think some of them did. Children often pick up a lot more than we thought we had put down.

What about you? What significance does Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection have for you? It is good to rehearse and re-study the account. You realize something new and exciting every time!