Palm Sunday
The Choosing of the Lamb Day
This falls under the category of “You probably already know this” but I didn’t, so I’m excited…
We know that Jesus’ crucifixion took place at the time of the Passover, but did you really know how closely the “Sacrifice of our Lord” corresponds to (or fulfills) the Feast of the Passover?
Consider this:
Thursday night before Good Friday (which we call “Maundy Thursday”) is the actual “Day” of Passover. That very day, the sacrificial lamb (Lamb) is to be killed, prepared and eaten.
Mark 14:12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples *said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
Mar 14:17 When it was evening He came with the twelve. As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me--one who is eating with Me.”
The meal they are eating IS the Passover. The next day, Friday, when Jesus would be hung on the cross was the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened bread. (Actually, it began at dusk on Thursday night - just as they were eating supper.) The absence of leaven symbolized complete consecration and devotion to God. Leaven, in the Bible is often equated with sin, so therefore the “Bread of Life” was “Unleavened” - without sin…
By the way, on this day, no one was to work - ever wonder why the crowds were so huge calling for Jesus’ crucifixion?
The day after the crucifixion (actually beginning at sundown on that Friday) was the Sabbath. Remember, that is the reason they wanted to make sure He was dead and buried before sundown.
Saturday, their Sabbath is the “in-between” day for us, and probably the longest day Jesus’ disciples ever lived.
Sunday morning, our “First day of the week” began the Festival of First Fruits for the Jewish people. Remember what Paul called Jesus? 1Corinthians 15:20 “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”
But here’s the real “kicker” for me - this is what I didn’t realize until just the other night… Read Exodus12:2-3 “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household.” (emphasis added)
And then verse 6 “You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.”
Now, think about it, if Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper is the time of the sacrifice, and that is the 14th day of their first month, count backwards to the 10th of the month, and what do you have…? You’ve got Palm Sunday!
The Jews saw it as Matthew 21:4-5 reads, This was done to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Israel, Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey - even on a donkey’s colt.” But, we can see a far greater significance; we can see it as “The Choosing of the Lamb” Day. This adds so much more emphasis to John the Baptist’s words in John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
He is truly our Sacrificial Lamb!
Have a blessed “Choosing of the Lamb” Day this coming Sunday!
Betty
This falls under the category of “You probably already know this” but I didn’t, so I’m excited…
We know that Jesus’ crucifixion took place at the time of the Passover, but did you really know how closely the “Sacrifice of our Lord” corresponds to (or fulfills) the Feast of the Passover?
Consider this:
Thursday night before Good Friday (which we call “Maundy Thursday”) is the actual “Day” of Passover. That very day, the sacrificial lamb (Lamb) is to be killed, prepared and eaten.
Mark 14:12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples *said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
Mar 14:17 When it was evening He came with the twelve. As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me--one who is eating with Me.”
The meal they are eating IS the Passover. The next day, Friday, when Jesus would be hung on the cross was the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened bread. (Actually, it began at dusk on Thursday night - just as they were eating supper.) The absence of leaven symbolized complete consecration and devotion to God. Leaven, in the Bible is often equated with sin, so therefore the “Bread of Life” was “Unleavened” - without sin…
By the way, on this day, no one was to work - ever wonder why the crowds were so huge calling for Jesus’ crucifixion?
The day after the crucifixion (actually beginning at sundown on that Friday) was the Sabbath. Remember, that is the reason they wanted to make sure He was dead and buried before sundown.
Saturday, their Sabbath is the “in-between” day for us, and probably the longest day Jesus’ disciples ever lived.
Sunday morning, our “First day of the week” began the Festival of First Fruits for the Jewish people. Remember what Paul called Jesus? 1Corinthians 15:20 “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”
But here’s the real “kicker” for me - this is what I didn’t realize until just the other night… Read Exodus12:2-3 “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household.” (emphasis added)
And then verse 6 “You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.”
Now, think about it, if Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper is the time of the sacrifice, and that is the 14th day of their first month, count backwards to the 10th of the month, and what do you have…? You’ve got Palm Sunday!
The Jews saw it as Matthew 21:4-5 reads, This was done to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Israel, Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey - even on a donkey’s colt.” But, we can see a far greater significance; we can see it as “The Choosing of the Lamb” Day. This adds so much more emphasis to John the Baptist’s words in John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
He is truly our Sacrificial Lamb!
Have a blessed “Choosing of the Lamb” Day this coming Sunday!
Betty
Labels: Bible Study
posted by Betty Newman at 6:54 AM
2 Comments:
That was new to me too.
Thank you for your comment. I've had literally hundreds of "hits" on this post using the search term "Palm Sunday sermons for children".
I often wonder if it is what they're looking for or not; if it's something they can use... I hope so.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
betty
Post a Comment
<< Home