Hosanna!

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

Continue reading Hosanna!

5 Reasons to Rejoice This Palm Sunday

“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.” Zechariah 9:9

This pandemic has brought sickness, death, isolation, fear, and anxiety. Jesus came to a troubled people, Israel. They were oppressed, longing for the promised Messiah who would reign over them. He taught them like no other rabbi. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, fed multitudes, calmed the sea and wind, and He died for them.

He knew the cross awaited Him as He entered Jerusalem. It was time.

Continue reading 5 Reasons to Rejoice This Palm Sunday

Days to Live … Jesus Watched

Widow’s Mite by James Joseph Jacques Tissot, Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum

Have you wondered what you would do if you knew that you had days to live? What would be your priorities?

Jesus knew that His time had come. His eyes were focused on the cross. But He had so much to do, to teach, to heal, to love during His last days.

Continue reading Days to Live … Jesus Watched

Hosanna! Jesus Saves!

Mount of Olives - 1Looking up the present-day Mount of Olives.

Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9

Passover was just six days away. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with a year’s wages worth of spikenard and wiped His feet with her hair. The room filled with a beautiful fragrance, and He told the room full of friends that Mary had just anointed Him for burial. John 12:3

The next day, Jesus looked down from the Mount of Olives onto Jerusalem. Lambs were being led down the Mount of Olives to the temple for inspection and later for sacrificing on Passover.  Continue reading Hosanna! Jesus Saves!