Significance of Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday

PALM SUNDAY

(Jesus’ Triumphant Entry)

The Palm Sunday, one of the important events in Christendom, is a glorious day celebrated on the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem.

The ceremony consisted of prayers, hymns, songs of praise (rendered by the people while they walk through their neighbourhood with palm fronds (branches) in their hands and shouting ‘Hosanna to the Son of David...’.) and sermon (in the Church after the procession).

The significance of Jesus riding on the donkey and having his way lined with palm branches is a fulfilment of the prophecy spoken by Prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9).

The Donkey which Jesus rode on symbolized PEACE while the laying of Palm branches (fronds) indicated that the King (Jesus) was arriving in VICTORY.

 WASHING OF FEET

(John 13:1-17)
Can you imagine? Jesus, the Son of God, washing dirty feet. Even though He was their leader and God Himself, He was not too proud to serve ( by washing their feet).

This Jesus did to make them have part (i.e. fellowship) with Him and vice versa. John 13:6-8.

The Lord Jesus was serving His disciples because He loved them. If Jesus is your Saviour, GOD WANTS YOU TO SERVE OTHERS WITH A HUMBLE HEART. Yet Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43).

That means if you want to truly please God, you will serve others with a humble heart. You may not be noticed or thanked here on earth but God will reward you someday.

NB: A humble person does whatever is necessary to help someone who has a need. He is not concerned about acting important or making others like him.

GOOD FRIDAY

Was the day Jesus yielded up His Spirit.   He Is Dead!

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:14.

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3.

His death wasn’t an accident. It was a carefully planned act of love (John 3:16). It was the fulfilment of the prophecy made again and again throughout the Old Testament (OT).

The death of Christ was only for our sins-not His, because He never did anything wrong (Heb. 4:15). He repeatedly foretold His death. Without the shedding of His blood there could be no forgiveness of sin (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22). While He hung on the cross, He (Jesus) cried out, “IT IS FINISHED.” Jesus meant, “I HAVE DONE ALL THAT I NEED TO DO FOR PEOPEL TO HAVE THEIR SINS FORGIVEN.

Then He died. “He was buried” (1 Corinthians 15:4). The third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:4).

NB: Beloved, this is the time for you to take a memorable decision to accept Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour if you’ve not done so. Because, Jesus Christ came purposely for me and you so as to die for and wash away our sins (Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 1:21). Repent today for you know not the day or the hour He will come, even the angels of heaven and the Son Jesus, but only God knows. (Matthew 24:36).

 

EASTER SUDAY

This glorious day was the day Jesus rose (i.e. resurrected) from the dead. He Is Risen!

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Romans 15:20.

The Christ, Our Hope, rose from the dead on the third day after He yielded up His spirit on Good Friday. It wasn’t like a horror show where partly decayed bodies rise up out of the ground and scare people. His body is real, and His friends knew Him when they saw Him (John 20:20). His disciples were able to talk with Him and touched Him (John 20:27). He ate food (Luke 24:42, 43).

 Yet, the risen Christ’s body was no longer like ours. It was made brand-new (perfect) and whole and powerful. In His new body, Jesus could appear and vanish in an instant (without waste of time) (Luke 24:31). He could walk through locked doors (John 20:19, 26).

The best part about His body was that it was no longer an earthly body: it was a body designed from heaven.

And if the Messiah (Jesus) has not risen, then our preaching and faith is empty (1 Corinthians 15:14) and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ.

Finally, we are still in sin if He is not risen (1 Corinthians 15:17); and those who have fallen in Christ have perished (1 Corinthians 15:18).

He is Our Hope - He is risen!