Son of David- Matthew 21:9

9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Approximately 500 years before the day we refer to as Palm Sunday when Jesus (Son of David), rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the prophet Zechariah wrote:

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

As He rode into town, the crowds were shouting for Jesus to save them, as is evidenced by the words “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

While the people were shouting for Jesus to save them from their Roman occupation, Jesus was offering a better salvation to them. As prophesied by Zechariah, Jesus was the righteous One who humbly came offering salvation from the wrath of God that comes from the forgiveness of their sins by faith in Christ who gave Himself for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ.

Palm Sunday was the beginning of what is now referred to as Christ’s passion week. It is also referred to as Holy Week. While He was hailed as the Messiah on Palm Sunday, in less than a week these same people would be calling for His crucifixion. This demonstrates how quickly people can have their minds changed, especially in a mob rule setting.

The crucifixion of Christ fulfilled several Old Testament prophecies and made our salvation possible. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Jesus (the spotless Lamb of God) shed His blood on a Roman cross so that we could have our sins forgiven and receive salvation. On Friday of that week, Jesus was crucified and laid in a borrowed tomb, only to rise again on Easter Sunday.

As you prepare to observe Easter Sunday, be sure to thank God for the gift of salvation He has given us in His Son Jesus Christ.