Palm Sunday

Yesterday's news: Thousands of Christians have begun Holy Week by retracing the steps Jesus took on His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Palm Sunday procession in the Holy City was larger than in previous years, thanks to a lull in violence. Under sunny skies, crowds marched from the Mount of Olives into the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Bible says Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as followers spread palm branches in His path, fulfilling an ancient Jewish prophecy. In Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians walked or rode donkeys toward Jerusalem, knowing they would be stopped by the separation barrier Israel is building. Their march became a demonstration.

John 12:13 "Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord."

The palm-tree was a tall tree, with a single stem, which was surmounted with a tuft of feathery ramifications, six or eight feet long, and called sometimes branches and sometimes leaves. They were used in marches and processions as the emblems of rejoicing and victory.

The shouting appears to have been started by those who came out of Jerusalem; it is evident, therefore, that the apostles who were approaching the city with Jesus had nothing to do with inciting this praise.

John 12:26 "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."