Passover was coming. Jews were walking up to Jerusalem by the thousands. Josephus estimates that Passover brought close to 2.7 million Jews to Jerusalem, requiring about 250,000 lambs for sacrifices.

One sacrifice that year would change the world. THE Perfect Sacrifice would be offered that Passover.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:9-10

The people rejoiced when they saw Jesus riding down the Mount of Olives on a donkey. They laid their outer garments on the ground, waved palm branches, and laid them on the ground. Their king came in humility and righteousness to save them, give them freedom, to bring peace.

A humble Servant’s heart. Divine righteousness. Salvation that brings eternal life.
Freedom from sin. Peace with God. Bought with a blood sacrifice. A Perfect Sacrifice.

Passover celebrates God’s gift of freedom from slavery. From slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. For Christians, from slavery to sin to freedom in Jesus.

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Rejoice! Shout for joy!

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD,
we pray, give us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.” Psalm 118:22-26

After kings entered the city, their custom was to enter the temple and offer a sacrifice. Jesus entered the temple and looked around and left. The next day, He cleansed the temple.

Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Mark 11:9

We rejoice in You, Lord Jesus. In humility, you came as Lord over all creation. In love, You came to lay down Your life for the world. In righteousness, You brought salvation. In purity, You brought peace with the Father. Save us, O LORD! Blessed are You. We rejoice and shout at the top of our lungs, for YOU ARE LORD! YOU ARE THE MESSIAH! HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, are You, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! We praise Your name. Amen.