News Flash: Rabbi Jonathan Cahn asked me to inform Townhall readers about his prophetic movie “The Harbingers of Things to Come.” Watch the trailer, and you’ll want to buy tickets for the May 12 one-night-only showing at theatres throughout the nation.
Author’s Note: Readers can find all previous volumes of this series here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into a book titled “Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible."
Thanks for joining our Palm Sunday Bible study. I am blessed to write about this profound event for the third year and will repeat an amusing personal story. Up until my early twenties, I thought Palm Sunday was about glorifying palm trees, and Good Friday was a Friday in spring that was "good." My theological excuse is that having been born and raised Jewish, no one ever told me the real meaning of both days, and I never bothered to ask.
Now, my prior ignorance appears to be more the norm. With church attendance and Bible study declining, millions don't know anything about Jesus, Palm Sunday, or even care to know. Correspondingly, many non-believers are lost and looking for meaning in their lives. Add to that state of mind life challenges that everyone experiences — tragedy, sickness, heartbreak, failure, betrayal, money problems, death of a loved one — it's no wonder that depression, mental illness, addiction, abuse, and self-destructive behaviors thoroughly permeate our culture.
Conversely, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ know their faith does not preclude them from experiencing life's difficulties. But fortunately, faith equips us with protective layers of love, hope, trust, comfort, meaning, and greater purpose — the desire to glorify Him in our life. Knowing Jesus is with you, holding your hand, offering forgiveness of sin, and that you are destined to spend eternal life with Him provides the framework that sets believers apart from non-believers. So pray about what Jesus tells us:
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"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him" (John 14:6).
Now let's discuss Palm Sunday and why it matters. For believers in Jesus Christ, today begins Holy Week. Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, knowing five days later that He would be crucified to death and resurrected the following Sunday. Given that Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem after performing his most profound miracle — raising Lazarus from the dead after four days in the tomb — growing numbers of Jews in ancient Israel believed that He was the Messiah. (See Vol. 52) That meant Jesus posed a threat to Jewish leaders — the Pharisees in charge of Jewish law, holiness, and temple taxes:
"Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. 'What are we accomplishing?' they asked. 'Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation'" (John 11:47-48).
The following verse explains the growing political problem that faced the Pharisees:
“Now the crowd that was with him, when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’ ” (John 12:17-19).
The people greeted Jesus waving palm branches; an event called the Triumphal Entry:
"The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!’ 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 'Hosanna in the highest heaven!' When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee’ ” (Matthew 21:9-11).
To help celebrate this special day, I asked two distinguished friends to share why Palm Sunday matters. First is Dr. Michael Brown, already familiar to Townhall readers. He hosts the nationally syndicated radio show Line of Fire and has authored more than 40 books, including The Real Kosher Jesus: Revealing the Mysteries of the Hidden Messiah.” Dr. Brown recently started a new initiative, “Not Ashamed of Jesus Day,” scheduled for Thursday, April 14. Today he wants you to know:
“As a Jewish follower of Jesus, Palm Sunday has a unique meaning for me, as I remember that so many of my people hailed Jesus as the Messianic King on this day, virtually shouting out, ‘Crown him! Crown him!’ and then, less than one week later, many shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ How fickle our human nature can be!”
“But there's something else that grips me about this day. Jesus said that he would not return until a Jewish Jerusalem welcomed him back, saying, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,’ meaning, ‘We welcome you, King Messiah!’ (See Matthew 23:37-39). What a glorious day that will be!”
Yes, Jesus is coming back, and we must always be ready to welcome Him.
Next is Rev. David G. Caron, OP, D. Min. - Director of Spiritual Outreach at Cross Catholic Outreach with his Palm Sunday message:
“In our difficult moments in life, might we look to Jesus for how to spiritually navigate? He was someone who listened more than he spoke. Someone who never stopped being truly who he was. This is the Jesus of Palm Sunday, the Jesus of Holy Week. This Jesus stands with us through every storm, knowing our pain, giving us comfort and loving us through it all.”
And Myra says: This is the Jesus who tells us, “I am with you always even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Keep that message close to your heart on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week. Even if you don't believe in Jesus, He believes in you and is always with you. Belief in Jesus will give your life clarity, meaning, and purpose. The start of Holy Week is the perfect time to wave your (virtual) palm and welcome Him into your heart, mind, and soul. Amen!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. Myra is also Executive Director of SignFromGod.org, a ministry dedicated to Shroud of Turin education. SignFromGod was a proud sponsor of the Museum of the Bible's opening events for its high-tech exhibition about the Shroud of Turin, open through July 31. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com or Twitter @MyraKAdams.
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