(Originally posted for Easter’s Blog in March of 2015)
In the Gospel of Matthew, the 21st chapter recounts Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday-“Jesus Triumphant Entry”.
It sounds like it was a pretty amazing party. A parade of waving palm branches, shouts of admiration for the Son of David, His Jewish brothers and sisters acknowledging Him jubilantly as their prophesied Savior-a joyous celebration indeed.
Matthew 21: 6-11 NLT
6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.
8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Other translatio
ns read “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”. “Hosanna” was a Hebrew expression meaning “Save” that became a exclamation of praise-how lovely!
I can’t help but put myself there among the shouting crowd. What resonates with me most is verse 8, “Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him…”. In the midst of a mess of people, a public parade no less, people in the crowd felt compelled to spread their garments on the dirty road. Thus, making a textile trail for the King and His colt to enter Jerusalem upon.
As we move into Holy Week may we consider ways that we too might lay down our garments for Christ-ways in which we can humbly serve as the foundation upon which His Grace moves within the world. Let us not forget that in spite of all things, He laid down his life for ours.
May this Holy Week be full of reflection and blessings!