The “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem happened one week before His resurrection. Zachariah 9:9 prophesied, “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
 Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey riding on a donkey’s colt.”
The prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 21:7-9, which says, “They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!”
We call the Sunday before Easter Palm Sunday because of the palm branches that were spread out for Jesus as the crowd cried out “Hosanna”! The same crowd a week later cried out, “Crucify Him”.
Why were the people shouting “Hosanna”? Hosanna means save or rescue. The Jews were under Roman rule and they wanted to be rescued. They were waiting for the Messiah. But their idea of the Messiah was a King that would come and conquer Roman military and take control. They wanted a Messiah that would save them from Rome. Jesus did come to save but not with military power. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” He came to save us from the penalty of our sin. The punishment we deserve is eternal separation from God. Thankfully, by His grace, we do not have to serve a sentence of spiritual death. We are saved by His grace from the penalty of our sin.
This Sunday morning March 24, 2013 our foundation hymn is “Crown Him with Many Crown”. The “Crown” symbolizes power and authority. Have you crowned Jesus the Lord of your life? It is typical for us to “Crown” Him one day and then take the crown away the next. As you sing this hymn take a look at your life and ask yourself if you have given Jesus complete control of your life.
Our songs for the morning include:
• Crown Him with Many Crowns
• Hosanna (Praise is Rising)
• Holy is the Lord
• Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty