THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS’ LIFE EARTH BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday:   Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet Him. They shouted, “Praise God ((Hosanna or Save Now)! Blessings on the One who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Do not be afraid, people of Jerusalem (O Daughter of Zion). Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:12-15 (NLT), also Psalm 118:25-26; Psalm 148:1; Zephaniah 3:15; Zechariah 9:9-10.

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus opened His last week on earth by riding into Jerusalem during Passover on a donkey under a covering of palm branches, with large crowd of people welcoming Him as their King. This was Sunday of Jesus’ last week before He would be crucified, and the great Passover festival was about to begin. Jews from all over the Roman world came to Jerusalem during this weeklong celebration to remember from exodus from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 12:37-51).

Many people in the crowds had heard of or seen Jesus and were hoping to see Him come to the temple (John 11:55-57). The people knew of Jesus’ many miracles and great teaching. The people thought Jesus would be the King and national leader to restore Israel.  Jesus came for Passover celebration as a gentle, humble and peaceable King on a donkey's colt, just as Zechariah 9:9-10 and Isaiah 62:11 of the Old Testament had predicted.

During most of Jesus’ public ministry on earth, He kept His identity as the true Lord and Messiah hidden from the people. However, in this rare scene coming into Jerusalem, large crowds openly acknowledged and accepted Jesus as the true Messiah from God and honored Him as such. The crowds of people shouted "Hosanna" which means "Save Now" and fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies in Zechariah 9:9 as well as Psalm 24:7-10; Psalm 118:25-26.  The crowds spoke of King David in reference of God's words to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-14. Tragically, in just a few short days, the crowd’s acceptance will quickly turned into rejection! When the people learned that Jesus was not going to fulfill their hopes, many people quickly turned against Him. This same crowd cried out as few days later to "Crucify Him" as Jesus stood on trial.