Today begins Holy Week, holy by definition, means to set apart. This week is the most sacred time of the liturgical year.
What was Jesus doing in His last days? Each day of this final week, Christ's acts are intentional as He fulfills the Old Testament, making all things new.
Matthew chapter 21 explains the events that took place, "The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:
'Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.'"
Hosanna from the Hebrew, hoshiah na', means save us. The crowds cry out, Save us, Son of David.
The Jewish people, having a full understanding of the Old Testament scriptures, realize what is being fulfilled. Jesus, the Messiah, is making his triumphant ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. He fulfills Zechariah's prophesy, "Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zec 9:9) The Messiah is not a warrior king. He doesn't ride in on a chariot. Our humble king rides in on a donkey, and they praise our Savior with palm branches, which are a symbol of royalty.
On this day, Jesus will fulfill half of Psalm 118. He will ride the donkey through the gates, and they will worship Him with palm branches; the festal procession is complete. But the Jewish people expected the Messiah to finish the actions in the Psalm. They expect him to go up to the bronze altar of sacrifice. He doesn't. He won't. There is a new altar coming, the cross. #livinglent2
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