Palm Sunday 2021 Christ came for A Cross .

Jesus is anointed for His death before Palm Sunday

John 12:1-8  Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2  There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7  Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8  For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

John 11 ended with Jesus avoiding the religious leaders in Jerusalem and ministering to people in a more remote area, while the Passover approached. Before the Passover Jesus returned to Bethany where a meal had been prepared. Lazarus and his sisters were in attendance. 

Mark's gospel tells us that the location was at the home of Simon, a leper. If Simon still had leprosy then he would not have been able to host a dinner in his home. Therefore, it is very likely that Simon is one of many lepers that Jesus healed during His ministry. 

Remember, Mary was quiet and a bit introspective compared to Martha. In this text Mary does an extravagant act upon Jesus.

She had an alabaster jar filled with a very fragrant oil. Such jars were valuable but the spikenard was very costly. It was produced from the roots and stems of an aromatic herb found in India. Spikenard was typically exported in alabaster containers which preserved and protected the oil. 

Mary's alabaster box had about one pint of the oil and the text tells us the value was about 300 denarius, which was equal to the wages for one year.  Mary took the ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus and rubbed it in with her hair. Mark's gospel tells us that she also poured it on Jesus' head. A wonderfully sweet, woody fragrance filled the whole house. 

What made Mary do such an extravagant act? She loved the Lord and that He raised her brother from the dead. Mary had been a rebel but now was a believer, born into the family of God. 

Judas the betrayer, demanded to know why the expensive ointment was not sold and distributed to the poor. John lets us know that Judas did not care about the poor. He was the treasurer and a thief. 

Jesus was quick to rebuke Judas and defended Mary's action. He said that Mary had kept this jar for a special occasion of anointing Jesus for His burial. 

He was also referring to His upcoming death on the cross and His ascending to heaven to be with His Father after Christ's resurrection. Mary gave this lavish gift openly and freely. 

Joyful Crowds Welcome Jesus Christ. 

John 12:12-19  On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13  Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14  And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15  Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16  These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17  The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18  For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. 19  The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. 

Why were the people waving palms? In ancient times, psalms were considered to be a symbol of victory and peace (Nehemiah 8:15 & Revelation 7:9).

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, it was seven days before the holy feast of Passover. This day was to be the beginning of a holy week leading up to observing Passover (Leviticus 23:5-7). 

Thus, Palm Sunday was the commencement of this holy week and that day was to call all Israel to a holy convocation.

Word got out quickly that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was full of people who made the trip for the Passover observance. Many of them previously heard Jesus' words, seen His works and believed on Him. 

Palm branches were a symbol of victory and the word "hosanna" originally meant "save us" or "save now" but later became a word of exuberant praise to Jehovah. Their loud cries of "Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" is a quotation from Psalm 118:26  which is a Messianic Psalm telling about Israel's future King. See also Psalm 24. 

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an ass to fulfill prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). Riding on an ass also was a symbol of peace meaning their King was a King who would establish & maintain peace. 

The crowd size increased and the Jews who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, were testifying of what they saw and heard Jesus do. It was a compelling testimony of truth extolling the words and works of Jesus that could not be denied. 

The Pharisees and religious leaders became greatly alarmed and panicked. "The whole world has gone after Him" they exclaimed. Their plans to secretly arrest and murder Jesus and Lazarus could never be carried out if He was surrounded by such great crowds. They demanded that Jesus silence their exclamations of praise and Jesus replied that if He did, the stones would cry out with praises (Luke 19:39-40)

Jesus was anointed for His burial.

We see the loving and sacrificial giving of Mary as she anointed the head and feet of Jesus.  Jesus  made it clear that Mary used the expensive oil to anoint Him for His burial. 

Jesus had resurrection power.

Many Jews believed on Jesus because He raised Lazarus from the dead. It was a resounding affirmation of Christ's declaration that "I Am the resurrection and the life."

The crowds praise would soon give way to "Crucify him!"

Massive crowds gathered around Jesus when He arrived at Jerusalem. This is an example of temporary euphoria because a few days later many of the same people would shout out "Crucify Him!"

What does this mean to us? We are encouraged because of many prophecies being fulfilled each step of the way as Jesus moved closer to the cross. We are blessed because Jesus was totally committed to doing His Father's will and pleasing Him always. We are strengthened because we saw powerful testimony proving beyond any doubt that Jesus Christ is all He claimed to be: Son of God, Son of Man, King, Creator and Jehovah in the flesh.

May our hearts be filled with exultant worship and praise this Palm Sunday, knowing that Jesus was going to endure tremendous agony and separation from the Father, in order to save us. Palm Sunday begins the week that culminated in God making Christ to be sin for us, so that we could be made righteous in Him (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

Bob