“Rejoice, greatly O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zachariah 9:9, NKJV
Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate the fulfillment of this prophecy foretold in the book of Zachariah. The story of this fulfillment can be found in Luke chapter 19 starting in verse 28, as well as Mark chapter 11, Matthew chapter 21, and John chapter 12 beginning with verse 12.
The fulfillment of prophesy goes a bit like this: Jesus instructed two of the disciples to retrieve a colt from a village where it was said to be tied with no one sitting on it. When the disciples brought the colt to Christ, out of respect, they laid clothing on the colt for the Lord to sit on. Some people put their own clothing in the road; others cut off then set out palm branches (perhaps as some would lay out a red carpet) along the path where Jesus would ride on. Praises of “Hosanna in the highest!” were called out as Jesus neared His destination because the people had known of the miracles Jesus had performed (Lazarus being raised out of the tomb had very recently occurred). But Jesus wept as He arrived in the city. He cried because He knew the choices many people were going to make and the destruction that was going to come. After this, Jesus set out to cleanse the temple of those who were selling inside.
What I find so interesting about this moment in time is people were praising the King of Kings and shouting out “Hosanna!” (meaning “to save” or “Lord, save us”) when just several days later, many would be shouting “Crucify Him!” How easily people became blinded to the works and fulfilled prophesy of the Lord. Maybe some people weren’t blinded per se, but just chose to go their own way turning their backs on God because it seemed easier. Jesus received glory and praise when times were better and He was performing miracles for the people. When the time came where Jesus was persecuted, many took the easier road and turned their backs on Him. I think back to Peter as he denied Christ three times just like Jesus said he would. Peter, who loved and followed Christ, did this though he didn’t believe he was capable of doing so. These same attitudes are put forth daily by many—maybe even some of us.
As we continue this week and the holiday season of the Christian Passover most of us Christians refer to as Easter, I pray we will be impacted in a special way; I pray our hearts will continue to rejoice “Hosanna!” as we celebrate the greatest gift any of us could ever be given.
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