Palm Sunday is a day that is special to Christians as we remember our Savior’s very public and triumphant entry into the holy city only a few days before He was crucified.

On His way to Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus Christ came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany. These were situated very close to the city which was beginning to fill with people coming from all directions for the Passover observance.

It was in a place outside the city that Christ sent two disciples to find a donkey colt on which no one had ever sat. They would find the colt tied, He said, and they would need to untie it and bring the animal to Him. In this, Christ Jesus fulfilled prophecy given centuries before by Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

If anyone questioned why the disciples were taking the colt, the disciples were to respond, “the Lord hath need of him.”

The disciples found the colt, and sure enough, they were questioned about what they were doing. They said what Christ Jesus told them, and they were allowed to take the animal.

When they brought the colt to Christ, the disciples covered its back with their garments, and He rode on the colt.

Mark tells us that many people spread their clothes on the road as a way of honoring Christ Jesus as a king. Some people cut palm branches from the trees showing their happiness on that occasion, and they laid the branches in the roadway.

There were many people who surrounded Christ Jesus, making quite a scene that day. God’s Word tells us they cried out, “Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” The word hosanna was an exclamation of adoration for the Lord, because at that time they acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah.

A point of interest, though, is what we might make of their expectation of Christ Jesus. “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord,” they shouted. On one hand, they acknowledged Jesus as being of the house of David, and this would have meant they saw Him as the Messiah. On the other hand, we have to wonder to what extent they really understood His kingdom.

Did the people see Jesus as they should have seen Him? Perhaps they did, but we have to wonder if some of these same people were in that crowd a few days later who would shout, “Crucify Him!”

The one matter that can be settled is how we look at Jesus. As you read, sing and talk about Him, does He reign supreme in your heart?

n The Sunday school lesson is written by Ed Wilcox, pastor of Centerville Baptist Church, Lumberton, N.C. edwilcox@nc.rr.com