This morning, we celebrate Palm Sunday also known as Passion Sunday! 

Although we haven’t been meeting for our community services this year, most churches have been moving through the season of Lent.  Lent is a period of 40 days set apart for prayer, repentance, and sacrifice to remember and to honor the sacrifice of Jesus beginning with Ash Wednesday.

Today marks the beginning of the last week in the earthly life of Jesus where we really see His passion for His purpose to seek and save the lost become clear.  It begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the people honor Him rightfully as their King and Savior.  He entered the city riding on a colt indicating that He was entering in peace and in victory.

Matthew 21:1-10

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to Daughter Zion,

    ‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” (Zech. 9:9)

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna (Save Us!) to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Psalm 118:25,26)

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

Oh, the many identity crises surrounding who Jesus was!  One thing was certain, though.  Jesus knew who He was, what His purpose was, and what He was about to accomplish for you and I and even for the crowds now shouting “Hosanna!” whom soon would be shouting “Crucify!”

All of this was done to fulfill what God had spoken through the prophets.

Amos 3:7-8

7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing

    without revealing his plan

    to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion has roared—

    who will not fear?

In fact, even the laying down of palm branches was a prophetic act.  There will come a day when we lay down palm branches before Jesus not to proclaim Him as victorious King prophetically, but as the fulfillment of that prophecy!  As the archangel Gabriel told Mary regarding Jesus’ birth:

Luke 1:37

For no word from God will ever fail.

The apostle John was given a glimpse into the end times when the roaring Lion of Judah, Jesus the Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, is found to be the only one worthy in Heaven and earth to open the scroll which unleashes the great tribulation leading to the end of all things.  He then wrote:

Revelation 7:9-17

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!

Praise and glory

and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!”

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you k