Welcome to Jerusalem!
We were excited to hear from Cindy and Don Martz this morning, as they presented photos from Jerusalem - the same route and locations Jesus would have taken on the original Palm Sunday!
We read and referenced a lot of scripture:
John 11 (11:47, 48, 53)
Luke 5:12
Matthew 12:33
Matthew 5
John 12:1, 11, 12
John 1:29
Genesis 3:21
Leviticus 1:4
1 Corinthians 5:7
John 18:19-24
John 19:19-20
Matthew 28 (28:8, 19, 20)
The beginning of Passion Week really started when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead… which happened just before Passover. This heightened the pharisees’ comprehension of the power of Jesus. They would have realized that He completed all of the Messianic miracles that the Jews of that day were expecting to come from the Messiah. (You can learn more about this from Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum.)
www.messianicassociation.org/ezine48-af-three-messianic-miracles.htm
So, the plot to kill Jesus began…
If you look at the Eastern Gate to Jerusalem (today), you would be sad to see that the Muslims cemented it shut and put a Muslim cemetery in front of the gate. They know that Jesus is coming back and they are trying to prevent Him from entering through the Eastern gate.
Just past the Muslim cemetery, is a Jewish cemetery. Those buried there are placed in the ground with their feet facing eastern gate - a symbol of being ready to rise up and enter through the gate with the Messiah.
Jesus coming through the Eastern Gate, on a donkey was more prophesy fulfilled. Palm Sunday took place on Nisan 9, April 2nd, 30 A.D.
First Century Israel required Jews to make a yearly sacrifice during Passover. Each Jewish man would have his sins placed on his chosen sacrificial lamb. On the 10th day of Nisan, the Passover lamb was selected. On the 14th day of Nisan, the Passover lamb was sacrificed at exactly 3 p.m. The lamb had to be a male and had to be pure. The lambs were inspected over the four days between the lambs being selected and slain (having its blood shed), they would have undergone a great deal of scrutiny and inspection… like a trial… Sound familiar?
The sacrifice of a lamb was a concept that went back to Adam and Eve in the garden. God made a sacrifice to clothe Adam and Eve - after their first sin. Then, the first “Passover” was in Egypt when the sacrifice of a lamb saved their first born sons.
The price to purchase a Passover lamb was 30 silver pieces? This was the same price Judas received for turning over (or selling out) Jesus.
Our sin was placed on Jesus and shed (by His blood) on the cross. He was the perfect and final Sacrificial Lamb. Jesus died at 3 p.m. on Nisan 14, April 6th, 30 A.D.
Jesus was the perfect, purest lamb - sacrificed for us.
The finality of Jesus’ work was proven in the tearing of the veil in the temple. This also symbolized that we would no longer need to sacrifice on an altar to be right with God. That work was finished through Jesus. God was no longer hidden behind a veil. Jesus’ work gives us direct access to the Father, in Heaven, who loves us!
When the pharisees had Jesus arrested, tried, and crucified, they broke 22 of their own laws. They were so concerned with Jesus being put to death (for selfish and political reasons), they didn’t care to follow their own rules.
https://deanbibleministries.org/dbmfiles/notes/22_RulesBrokenAtYeshuasTrial.pdf
When Jesus was crucified, He was hung on a cross at Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. This was because it was a busy road people would have taken to get into Jerusalem. He was hung there to be put on display.
Sadly, today, the place where Jesus was crucified is a bus stop.
Heavenly Father - We pray that everyone who passes through Golgotha (by bus or by foot) feel Your Spirit and conviction. We thank you for the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ - the Perfect Lamb who took the penalty of our sin onto Himself on the cross. We do not deserve You or Your love, but You offer it anyway. Help us to never take Your love or Jesus’ sacrifice for granted. Help us to remember it and share it with the world around us. In His name we pray - Amen!
