Palm/Passion Sunday- A Biblical Significance (Bible Shots- Holy Week Special Lesson 1) Fr. Benedict

Описание: Dear Friends,
Holy Week Special lesson 1- Palm Sunday /Passion Sunday
1. Why Donkey during procession?
In Biblical times, it was common for kings or important people to arrive by a procession riding on a donkey. The donkey symbolized peace so that those who chose to ride them showed that they came with peaceful intentions.
Jesus chose to ride on a donkey which directly fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.
I Kings 1:38-41 describes how Prince Solomon used his father David’s royal donkey for the ceremonial procession on the day of his coronation.

2. Why Palms during procession?
In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness, triumph, peace and victory. They were often depicted on coins and important buildings.
In the Old Testament, the book of Maccabees describes the reception by rising of the palms and laying of the palms on the ground was given to two people, one the Jewish military leader Simon Maccabaeus in 171 BC (I Maccabees 13:51ff) and then second to a military general, Judas Maccabaeus, who led the struggle against the Greek Seleucid Emperor, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and liberated the Temple from pagan control in 163 BC (II Maccabees 10:6-8)

3. Why Hosanna during the procession?
The Greek word “hosanna” originally meant "save us now" (II Samuel 14:4). The people sang the entire Psalm 118 on the Feast of the Tabernacles when they marched seven times around the Altar of the Burnt Offering. On Palm Sunday, however, the people used the prayer “Hosanna” as a slogan of greeting meaning “God, the king of Israel, save us now”.