Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

The people were waiting for Yeshua to appear in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

Joh 11:55  And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

Joh 11:56  Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

Joh 11:57  Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him (arrest him). 

The Sanhedrin had plans to kill Yeshua. 

Joh 11:53  Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Joh 11:54  Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

By the commandments Moses received, all men were required to go to jerusalem for three feasts.

Exo 23:17  Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Definition of pilgrimage festival: any of three great festivals in the Jewish calendar originally celebrated by a pilgrimage to Jerusalem — passover , shavuot, sukkoth

Yeshua‘s family complied with this commandment.

Yeshua and his family went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover and unleavened bread. 

Luk 2:41  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.  2:42  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 

2Ch 8:13  Even after a certain….commandment of Moses …three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, (Note: passover is the first day of the seven day feast called unleavened bread) and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

Exo 23:14  Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.

Exo 23:15  Thou shalt keep the feast of Passover & unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Aviv; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Exo 23:16  And the feast of (early spring) harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, (also known as feast of Weeks, Shavuot, or Pentecost ) which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering (in the fall after the harvest . Also known as feast of tabernacles or succoth, which means booths or tents) which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

Years later as Yeshua approached Jerusalem for the last time he cried and lamented over the city.

Luk 13:34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Luk 13:35  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

His prophetic word was “you shall not see me again until you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” 

In Hebrew: Baruch haba beshem Adonai.Now on to the time we call Palm Sunday.Yeshua gave his disciples instructions to go get a colt and bring it to him. Here’s the story from the book of mark.

Mar 11:1  And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

Mar 11:2  And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

Mar 11:3  And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

Mar 11:4  And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

Mar 11:5  And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

Mar 11:6  And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

Mar 11:7  And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

Mar 11:8  And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

Mar 11:9  And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

Mar 11:10  Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. (The people acknowledged the kingdom and the fulfillment of David’s promise was here.)

Mar 11:11  And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Remember, Jesus had to be in hiding because the chief priests wanted to arrest him and kill him.

The story of Jesus entry into Jerusalem from the book of Luke.

Luke 19:28  And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

Luk 19:29  And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Luk 19:30  Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

Luk 19:31  And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

Luk 19:32  And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

Luk 19:33  And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

Luk 19:34  And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

Luk 19:35  And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

Luk 19:36  And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

Luk 19:37  And when he was come nigh, even now at 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 that they had seen;

Luk 19:38  Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Luk 19:39  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

Luk 19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 Next book of John describes Jesus entry into Jerusalem as the triumphant entry.

Joh 12:12  On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,          Joh 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. Joh 12:14  And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,  Joh 12:15  Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. 

Yeshua fulfilled this prophecy from the book of Zechariah:

Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass. 

Psalm 118 has some prophetic words. 118: 26 blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. (Translated in English is hosanna) We bless you from the house of the Lord. the Lord is God and has enlightened us. join in procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar.

Now an exciting look at the use of PALMS in scripture. 

1). From the old testament In the book of Leviticus  at the feast of Sukkoth, they were required to praise God with bundles of twigs and palm branches to wave in the air. (By the way, Note the spring feast of unleavened bread lasted seven days, and the fall feast of Sukkoth 6 months later lasted seven days.)

Lev 23:39  Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

Lev 23:40  And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of PALM trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

Lev 23:41  And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it.

2).  From the New Testament: At the time of Yeshua, the PALMS were used in his joyful entry into Jerusalem at the feast of Passover. Read all about it in the above verses.

3). A third reference to palm branches in the New Testament is in the book of revelation 7:9.

 Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and PALMS in their hands;

Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Something to think about as we approach the time of the crucifixion of our Messiah. I hope this study blesses you.

written by Elaine Haynick April 12, 2022