Sunday Lesson Notes, April 8, 2023
- What does Palm Sunday mean to you?
- You may remember playing with tiny palm branches at church on Sunday
- You may remember making crosses out of palms
- You may remember wearing your best church clothes
- What really happened on that day?
- Read Luke 19:35
- Kings were inaugurated on donkey’s in the past as part of Israelite culture; it was also a sign of a king coming to make peace during war
- Saul was the first king to ride into the city on a donkey
- Jesus asked for a donkey as a fulfillment of the messianic prophecy in Zechariah 9:9
- Donkeys represent the king in a humble, servant state; it may be a sign he is coming to make peace or to save the people
- When a king rides into a city on a horse, it is a sign of victory and celebration or to bring judgment on the people and take control
- In the Book of Revelation, Jesus returns to us on a White Horse, symbolizing his victory over satan and death and to bring judgment on those unwilling to acknowledge him
- Why were the Pharisees upset when the people referred to Jesus as Lord?
- The Pharisees refused to acknowledge that Jesus was from God
- They thought he was a fraud and they did not want to lose their position as the religious leaders of the day by accepting Jesus as the true Lord
- Why was Jesus weeping?
- He was weeping as he entered Jerusalem because he could see past the beauty of the city with its 100 foot wall. He knew the fate of Jerusalem. The temple would be destroyed and all the Israelites would be scattered with Judaism in ruins. He could see the suffering that was about to take place.
- He was likely remembering Jeremiah’s prophecy that predicted the destruction of the temple and Shiloh would be in ruins. Shiloh was the place where the Ark was stored before David brought it into Jerusalem. Eventually, the Philistines captured the Ark and destroyed Shiloh. In 70 AD these predictions came true again as warned by Jesus.
- What did Jesus mean by “the time of your visitation”?
- The Jews of the day did not recognize that Jesus was the Davidic Messiah. He rode in on a donkey, like the prophecy of old, when new kings would ride into a city on a donkey as part of their inauguration. Unfortunately, many of them still missed the clue.
- What are some other “times of visitation” in the old testament that demonstrate onlookers missing the clue?
- Noah and the Ark- Noah sent from God to save
- Ninevah and Jonah- Jonah sent from God to save
- David and Goliath- David sent from God to save
- Sodom and Gomorrah- the Angel sent from God to save
- Read 1 Peter 2:12
- Peter predicted Jesus’s future day of visitation where believers will glorify God.
- Remember to keep doing good deeds, this will be pleasing to the Lord and help others to be saved and glorify GOD!
- Jesus was accused of many false actions, but he never gave up. He persevered and was able to save the world who recognized and accepted him, thereby bringing glory to God!