John 12.12-1512 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus

was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to

meet him, shouting,

   "Hosanna!"

   "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

   "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

 15"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;

      see, your king is coming,

      seated on a donkey's colt."

Scripture Reading

Matthew 21.1-11

Mark 11.1-11

Luke 19.28-44

John 12.12-19

John 12.12-1512 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus

was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to

meet him, shouting,

    "Hosanna!"

   "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

   "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;

see, your king is coming,

  seated on a donkey's colt."

John 12, mc 12.1-19, vv. 12.12-15

John 12.12-1512 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus

was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to

meet him, shouting, [Hosanna-Hebrew hoshia‘ na literally: “Save, please!”]

    "Hosanna!" [Psalm 118:25, KJV: “save now”]

   "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

   "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;

see, your king is coming,

  seated on a donkey's colt."

John 12, mc 12.1-19, vv. 12.12-15

John 12.12-1512 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus

was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to

meet him, shouting,

    "Hosanna!"

   "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" [Psalm118.26]

   "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;

see, your king is coming,

seated on a donkey's colt."

John 12, mc 12.1-19, vv. 12.12-15

John 12.12-1512 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus

was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to

meet him, shouting,

    "Hosanna!"

   "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

   "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;

see, your king is coming,

seated on a donkey's colt." [fulfillment of Prophecy: Zechariah 9.9]

John 12, mc 12.1-19, vv. 12.12-15

A donkey is usedto carry burdens

Burdens like:carrying supplies

A donkey is a symbolof disgrace and humiliation

only the very poorwill ride upon one

“[T]he donkey is a symbol of disgrace and humiliation in these [Near Eastern] countries. Princes and noblemen never ride a donkey; only the very poor will ride upon one. Nor would they offer such an animal to a distinguished visitor. Near

Eastern officials would punish an individual for his heretical view or for some other cause reflecting on his moral character by placing him on a [donkey] and then

parading him around town. In many areas of the East, this custom still prevails.”

God and YouQuite an honor to lenda donkey to a holy manso that he may ride it

Luke 19.29-34

God and YouQuite an honor to lenda donkey to a holy manso that he may ride it

Luke 19.29-34

The donkey carriedthe burden of Jesus

who carried the burdenof our sins

1 Peter 2.21-25

God and YouQuite an honor to lenda donkey to a holy manso that he may ride it

Luke 19.29-34

The donkey carriedthe burden of Jesus

who carried the burdenof our sins

1 Peter 2.21-25

Jesus will return on a horseas King and Conqueror

Revelation 19.11-16

EndnotesLesson: Palm SundayPresented: March 28, 2010Author: Raymond Harris www.raymondharris.com

All Scripture Quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version; used from www.biblegateway.com.

“Descriptions of the Donkey” and an ““honor to lend a donkey to a holy man” Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew, Rocco A. Errico and George M. Lamsa, A Commentary on the Teachings of Jesus from the Aramaic and Unchanged Near Eastern Customs, pages 256-259, ISBN-13 978-0-9631292-6-0.

Additional information about the donkey is available: Aramaic Light on the Gospels of Mark and Luke, Rocco A. Errico and George M. Lamsa, A Commentary on the Teachings of Jesus from the Aramaic and Unchanged Near Eastern Customs, pages 246-247; ISBN 0-9631292-7-9.

“Hosanna” From Hebrew hoshia‘ na (literally, “Save, please!”), Jewish New Testament Commentary, David H. Stern, page 63, ISBN 965-359-008-1.

Image CreditsLesson: Palm SundayPresented: March 28, 2010Author: Raymond Harris www.raymondharris.com

Holy Bible with Cross – http://warrenbedellphotography.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=64

Gospel of John – http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=3888585 Palm Sunday Hosanna in the Highest –

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u211/KdtW/palm_sunday_fc.jpg Donkey with Straw tied to back –

http://www.danheller.com/images/Africa/Mali/Timbuktu/Slideshow/img16.html Donkey with Supplies in Dessert –

http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2008/03/080310170636-large.jpg

Image CreditsLesson: Palm SundayPresented: March 28, 2010Author: Raymond Harris www.raymondharris.com

Donkey Caravan – http://nazret.com/blog/media/blogs/new/donkey_ethiopia.jpg Donkey on Gravel Highway with Aged Man Passager –

http://bogieworks.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/donkeyframes.jpg

Donkey on Paved Highway with Man Wearing Covering – http://bogieworks.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/donkeysheik.jpg

Painting of Jesus Jerusalem Entry – http://ourpreciouslambs.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/palm-sunday.jpg

NotesDonkey – is used as an animal to carry burdens for the carrying of supplies

(Lamsa, Matthew 256)

Donkey – quite an honor to lend a donkey to a holy man so that he may ride it

(Lamsa, Matthew 256)

Colt – symbolizes meekness and humility. Kings, princes, and rulers would

have despised riding a donkey (Lamsa, Matthew 257)

Mule – a symbol of strength (Lamsa, Matthew 257)

Donkey – a symbol of disgrace and humiliation (Lamsa, Matthew 257)

Donkey – most despised animal, to Jesus symbol of meekness (Lamsa, Mark &

Luke 246)

NotesEntering a City – when Near Eastern kings and princes enter a city, people

clean the streets, repair the roads, hang their tapestries from the windows or

rooftops of the buildings, and spread rugs on the streets. The people are

very lavish and generous on such occasions. (Lamsa, Matthew 257)

Jesus Entry – A group of Galileans who had come early to the Feast greeted

Jesus and his disciples when he arrived at the Mount of Olives. They had

no rugs or other objects of beauty to lay under his feet. So these Galileans

spread their garments on the ground as a token of welcome and loyalty to

him and as a rebuke to the religious officials who were shunning [Jesus].

(Lamsa, Matthew 258).

NotesA delegation, composed of the governor, noblemen, and priests accompanied by a large

crowd, leaves the city to greet and escort the royal guests. As a token of the city’s

hearty welcome, the delegation will provide a handsome horse saddled with

expensive livery embroidered with silk and gold. The Hebrews used a mule on such

occasions. The mule was a symbol of strength.

However, the donkey is a symbol of disgrace and humiliation in these countries. Princes

and noblemen never ride a donkey; only the very poor will ride upon one. Nor would

they offer such an animal to a distinguished visitor. Near Eastern officials would

punish an individual for his heretical view or for some other cause reflecting on his

moral character by placing him on a [donkey] and then parading him around town. In

many areas of the East, this custom still prevails. (Lamsa, Matthew 257-258)