In 2017, Lynn and I stood together on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem in the nation of Israel.

My heart was flooded with wonder and awe as I looked out across the Kidron Valley toward the ancient walls of that Holy City in the distance.

It had been the City of Kings.

King David had lived there, and his son, King Solomon, built a beautiful Temple on the summit of what was called Mount Zion.

It became the home of the Kings of Judah that followed Solomon.

I imagined the biblical history laid out before my wife and I, and my thoughts focused in on the One the holy scriptures called The Son of David, The Son of God, The Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us!

I imagined that Holy One, Jesus the Christ, standing in the same spot as we were as He overlooked Jerusalem and wept for her.

I imagined the King of Kings standing in that same spot with His disciples prior to their descent into the Valley and through the Gates of Jerusalem.

They may have stood there on that spot every time they stayed in Bethany, the village on the Mount of Olives, where they were the guests of their friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

Every time King Jesus and His disciples visited Jerusalem they stayed in Bethany, which was just a few miles away from the City of Kings and the Temple where the Hebrew people worshipped the One True God.

Standing there on the Mount of Olives, I thought back to that Sunday as Jesus and His disciples prepared to make their descent down the road toward Jerusalem and into a week that would change the course of human history.

The Gospel of Mark tells it this way…

“When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethpage and Bethany on Mount Olives, He sent off two of the disciples with instructions: ‘Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘The Master needs him, and will return him right away.’

“They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. Some of those standing there said, ‘What are you doing untying that colt?’ The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone.

“They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and He mounted (and rode toward the Gates of Jerusalem).

“The people gave Him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out palm branches they had cut from trees.

“Running ahead and following after, they were calling out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in God’s name! Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in highest heaven!’

“Jesus entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so He went back to Bethany with the Twelve.”

The young man named John, one of Jesus’ first disciples, a trusted confidant, was with Jesus that day, and he had been by His side for almost all of Jesus’ public ministry.

John tells of the activities surrounding that eventful day in his gospel account…

“Word got out among the Jews that Jesus was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So, the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.

“The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast of the Passover heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in God’s name! Yes! The King of Israel!’

“Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it: ‘No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey’s colt.’

“The disciples didn’t notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about Him matched what was done to Him.

“The crowd that had been with Him when He called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: ‘It’s out of control. The world’s in a stampede after Him.’”

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the beginning of what Christians refer to as Holy Week or Passion Week.

Palm Sunday is that day on the Christian Calendar that believers around the World look back and commemorate that day that Jesus made His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem.

He returned to the City of Kings that one last time, knowing that He had a date with destiny, a date to fulfill God’s Plan, a date when He would say to His Father, “Nevertheless, not my will but Thy will done.”

Jesus surrendered His will to God’s plan, and He laid down His life in atonement for the sins of mankind.

The King of Kings, the Son of God, the Lion of Judah, was coming into Jerusalem this time as the Lamb of God, the Passover Lamb.

The Final Sacrifice.

I pray that you will join a group of Bible believers tomorrow on Palm Sunday, at a church of your choosing, to worship the King of Kings, the Lamb of God.

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in God’s name! Yes! The King of Israel!”