Christians around the world celebrate Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter which begins Holy Week. Holy Week marks the events which led to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There, Mary and Martha prepared supper for Him, and Lazarus was among those who sat at the table with Him (John 12:2). Judas, who would later betray Jesus, was also there; the day after, Jesus would depart for Jerusalem (John 12:12).

Palm Sunday is the day that we honor Jesus’ triumphal entrance, riding on a donkey, into the city of Jerusalem.  Large crowds, which had come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, gathered along the road and laid before Him palm branches and their cloaks, celebrating Jesus as King and Savior. They shouted,

Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” (John 12:12)

Then, Jesus spoke to the crowd, as was foretold in Zechariah 9:9-

“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt”  (John 12:15)

The people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Jesus, because they’d heard that He had done this sign (John 12:17,18).

CHRISTIAN OBSERVANCES AROUND THE WORLD

Today, Catholics and Protestants are given palm leaves on Palm Sunday, which symbolize the palms laid before Jesus that day in Jerusalem.  The leaves are often tied into the shape of the cross and displayed in the home.

Leftover palm fronds are burned to supply the ashes for Ash Wednesday the following year.  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. This 40 days is observed with fasting.

      Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. delivers Sunday service at West Angeles.

12 SCRIPTURES FOR PALM SUNDAY (all NKJV)

Here are 12 scriptures which illustrate the glory of Palm Sunday, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ:

Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!”- 2 Kings 9:13

Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation. – Psalm 35:9

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be glorious.” – Isaiah 11:10

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  – Matthew 21:6-8

  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” 3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” – Mark 1:1-3

Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” – Luke 19:37,38

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. – John 3:16, 17

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  – Acts 2:38

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. –  2 Corinthians 5:17

We love Him because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:19

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND

LORD OF LORDS. – Revelation 19:16