“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!’ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.’” (John 12:12-15, NKJV) (Verse 15 quotes Zechariah 9:9)
What an exiting day that must have been for the disciples of Christ to see the people shouting “Hosanna,” and waving the palm branches and laying them on the road to make a “royal carpet” for the Lord to travel along on His lowly donkey as He entered Jerusalem on that glorious day! Not only was the prophecy of Zechariah being fulfilled right before their very eyes, but also the prophecy of Daniel was being fulfilled, although they were probably not aware of just how dramatic that fulfillment was!
In the book of Daniel, verse 9:25, that awesome man of God living his life in Babylonian captivity, wrote these words: “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.”
This Scripture indicates that 69 weeks (weeks of years) after the order to rebuild the temple was commanded buy the King of Persia, the Messiah would come to His people, the Jews. Pastor David Jeremiah penned these words about this prophecy:
“The sixty-nine weeks began with March 14th445 B.C., when Artaxerxes’ decree went forward. We need to remember that the weeks are counted as years and each year had 360 days. Simple calculation of this time element is this: 69 weeks (of years) x 7 (days of a week)= 483 x 360 (days in a year) = 173,800. Now if you take March 14, 445 B.C., when the decree to rebuild Jerusalem went forth, and add to it 173,800 days, you come to April 6, A.D. 32. According to Sir Robert Anderson in his chronology, it was on that day that Jesus Christ rode into the city in His triumphal entry.” (The Handwriting on the Wall” by David Jeremiah, p. 195)
What more can we say or think about this Man called Jesus Christ? He is the predicted Messiah for the Jewish people and the Son of God that He claimed to be and He came just as the ancient prophets foretold so that we could know without a doubt that He is who he claimed to be: the Savior of the world who gave up His life as a ransom for all who will believe in Him and surrender to His Lordship in their lives.
How about you this glorious day that we remember our Lord fulfilling prophecy just a few days before He would die on a cross for you and of me? Has there ever been a day when you have repented of your sins, professed your belief in him with you lips, and surrendered your life to His loving control. Today would be a great day if you have not! If you have given your life over to Him are you truly being obedient to His teachings? Also, today would be a great day to dedicate your life to Him anew and be a faithful disciple, making other disciples.
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
PRAY
1. Holy Spirit pleas fill me today and help me to serve Him in my family, and in my church and help me to see who I can minster too in His name today.
2. Help me Lord to spend time in Your Scriptures today and everyday this week so that my heart will be prepared to celebrate Your glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday and that I will be a witness to others of your wonderful grace and mercy.
3. Lord, place those people on my heart and in my path this week so that I can invite them to celebrate your resurrection with me at our church this Easter.
4. Lord be with the Christians in Ukraine and give them strength and courage to stand strong for you, no matter the circumstances or hardships.
