By: Payton M. Ishmael
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth
The dusty roads of Jerusalem are lined on both sides; the volume of the population is like that of a modern-day parade. People are waiting, watching in anticipation. The mood of the crowd combines that of love and of hate. Some watch with hatred, preparing to mock and jeer. Others watch full of love and adoration to the One soon approaching.
Finally, He becomes visible just this side of the horizon. Half of the crowd begins praising, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!” Palm branches wave in the air and cover the streets, almost as if an ancient version of Hollywood’s red carpet. The people have made preparations for this day, the beginning of Holy Week. Today is the “triumphant entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem.
In the year 2010, it’s hard to imagine what life might have been like during the time that Jesus appeared on Earth as man. Today, many people also refer to ‘Palm Sunday’ as ‘Passion Sunday.’ Although I understand where the term ‘palm’ was derived from, ‘passion’ seems a much more fitting term.
In exactly one week, we will celebrate Easter Sunday. So calling the week ahead ‘Holy Week’ is something to ponder upon. If we were amidst the crowd so many years ago, this would be a week of great tragedy and tremendous victory. Nobody was apathetic. Some gladly joined the mob who scoffed at Jesus and His brutal crucifixion. Others, though, had shattered hearts as He cried out, “Father, forgive them.” Most blessed for all of us, is that those broken hearts were quickly mended at the end of the week.
Remember today the Palm embellished streets of Jerusalem. Remember today the triumphant entry of Christ. Remember this week, Holy Week, the grace provided to us today.
Written for House of Prayer newsletter// March 28, 2010
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth
The dusty roads of Jerusalem are lined on both sides; the volume of the population is like that of a modern-day parade. People are waiting, watching in anticipation. The mood of the crowd combines that of love and of hate. Some watch with hatred, preparing to mock and jeer. Others watch full of love and adoration to the One soon approaching.
Finally, He becomes visible just this side of the horizon. Half of the crowd begins praising, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!” Palm branches wave in the air and cover the streets, almost as if an ancient version of Hollywood’s red carpet. The people have made preparations for this day, the beginning of Holy Week. Today is the “triumphant entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem.
In the year 2010, it’s hard to imagine what life might have been like during the time that Jesus appeared on Earth as man. Today, many people also refer to ‘Palm Sunday’ as ‘Passion Sunday.’ Although I understand where the term ‘palm’ was derived from, ‘passion’ seems a much more fitting term.
In exactly one week, we will celebrate Easter Sunday. So calling the week ahead ‘Holy Week’ is something to ponder upon. If we were amidst the crowd so many years ago, this would be a week of great tragedy and tremendous victory. Nobody was apathetic. Some gladly joined the mob who scoffed at Jesus and His brutal crucifixion. Others, though, had shattered hearts as He cried out, “Father, forgive them.” Most blessed for all of us, is that those broken hearts were quickly mended at the end of the week.
Remember today the Palm embellished streets of Jerusalem. Remember today the triumphant entry of Christ. Remember this week, Holy Week, the grace provided to us today.
Written for House of Prayer newsletter// March 28, 2010
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