Palm Sunday 2024

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

This is the same story as described in Matthew 26 and Mark 14, and Luke 7.

The story takes place in Bethany, on the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem.

V. 1 - Bethany is where Lazarus lived after Jesus raised him from the dead.

v. 2 - Since Jesus was in town a dinner was given in his honor. From the Synoptic Gospels we know that this dinner took place at Simon the Leper’s house

v. 3 - Mary pours Nard onto Jesus’ feet and head (Mark 14)

Nard was a spice imported from northern India, had a reddish color and was used for all sorts of things in ancient times. It had a sweet sent to it. the size of the jar of Nard was about a pint, a half of liter.

Some scholars believe the cost of that perfume would have been equal to a year’s worth of wages or 300 denarii

V4-7. Judas was upset with Mary’s choice to use the fragrance on Jesus’. His motives seem pure but John has hindsight to tell us of Judas’ real motivation… He was a thief

v. 7 - It was intended that she saves this perfume for the day of my burial

The Triumphal Entry

Mark 11, Luke 19, Matthew 21

v. 12- The crowd was there for Passover, many came from all over. The population of Jerusalem at this time was around 50,000 people but it swelled to three times that much during the Passover festival

v. 13 - Palm branches - date palms from date trees

During this time these palm leaves had become a symbol of Jewish nationalisms to contrast their Roman overlords

So what is most interesting about the crowd standing on the road waving palm branches at Jesus is the fact that at this point they are viewing him as their Savior, but not yet as their Spiritual savior but as the one they hoped would save them from the Romans.

They want saved but they don’t want saved from their sins but they want saved from their earthly masters.

Hosanna! - which is an Aramaic word for Save us! (Psalm 118:25 “Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!” )

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (Psalm 118:26)

Luke 14:39-40 : Jesus does not rebuke his disciples and the crowds when they call him Lord and rejoice at all the miracles they had seen. In the past Jesus would have told them to keep quiet and not tell anyone yet. But now Jesus tells the Pharisees that if they don’t praise God the stones themselves will do it!

V. 14 - Jesus sent his disciples ahead and found a young donkey or a colt to ride on as he entered the city. He did come riding on chariots with steeds, or with an army of soldiers like they wanted. He came as a humble servant on the back of a donkey. You can imagine the challenge this presented for some, who wanted Jesus to militarily save them from the Romans. Their view of Messiah had been severely skewed away from Scripture and they did not want to see a humble servant who was going to save them, they wanted a strong man who was going to destroy their enemies.

v. 15 - references Zachariah 9:9, in fact in verse 16 John admits that even his disciples did not understand why Jesus was riding into his big debut on the back of a donkey…

v.17-18: word continue to spread about the miracle of Lazarus being risen from the dead. That crowd climaxes in Jerusalem for the time of Passover. One week later, many of the people who came to see what man this was who raised Lazarus from the dead would be the same people shouting to Crucify him.

Triumphal Entry - this idea of a king coming back from war as triumphant would not have bee lost on all those watching Jesus riding into Jerusalem. However, when earthly kings came back from battle they would parade through the streets with their army and it’s spoils from war.

Just as Jesus was misunderstood in John 6 as well after he fed the 5000 they wanted to make him king, but he withdrew immediately. Now here we are again, after the resurrection of Lazarus the crowd is once again misunderstanding his intentions and are trying to make him their earthy king.

Even when the disciples witnessed this they didn’t fully understand either. It wasn’t until after Christ was lifted up and glorified did they fully understand his true mission.

The Kingdom of God Has Come!

Verses 20 - 36: Jesus’ sermon to the Greeks or Gentiles

These specific people are likely God-fearers, or non-Jews who came to Jerusalem during the festival since they were drawn toward the things of God.

Cornelius is considered a God-fearer in the book of Acts

Now and no longer is the message of the Savior just for the Jews. But now the Gentiles have access to this Savior, Jesus Christ! This section of Scripture marks the transition in Jesus’ ministry to the whole world and not just to those of Israel

v. 21 - Sir, we would like to SEE Jesus

Yes they did want to physically see him, but they also were seeking truth, to understand Jesus

V 23-26 - These words from Jesus would have been quite confusing since Jesus was saying that he had to die in order to be glorified. Everyone listening

Jesus has to die and his servants must follow him

Not only follow him but hate their life on this earth in order to receive eternal life…

My Soul Is Troubled

v. 27-33 - This is a fascinating section of Scripture where Jesus is still teaching these people that he must die. He admits that his soul is troubled about this but he knows the whole reason he came was to die and be lifted up.

Garden of Getheseme - if this cup can pass from me