Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

I hope that you have heard of Palm Sunday. It is one week before Resurrection Sunday. It celebrates the day that Jesus and His disciples traveled from Bethany to Jerusalem. It was just before the Passover celebration began. Our Lord rode a donkey into the city.

In John 12:1-3, just before Palm Sunday, Jesus’ feet had been anointed by Mary Magdalene at her home, where He and His disciples were staying. This was in preparation for His burial and was the response to those who called it a waste.

As they were traveling to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of the disciples to find a particular donkey. Read the story of this in Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-41, and Matthew 21:1-9.

The festival lasted for almost a week. The Temple grounds were more like a festival atmosphere. Jesus knew that this was where He would become the final, ultimate sacrifice. This is the time when all the problems with the Sanhedrin come to a head.

The people are celebrating the coming of the Messiah to Jerusalem. This was not something that the Jewish leaders wanted to see. He was not the one that they wanted for their Messiah. I believe we often miss Barabbas as this deliverer. When they take Jesus to Pilate, they ask for him to be released.

Before they could make this exchange, they had to arrest Him without causing an uproar that would alert the Romans. This was a well-orchestrated arrest and a conspiracy against our Savior. Don’t worry, because this did not surprise Him in the least.

Let’s look at what else will happen before Good Friday. Jesus will overturn the tables in the courtyard of the Temple. Another conflict with the Jewish leaders. He will be questioned extensively while teaching all over Jerusalem. These attempts to discredit Him only serve to widen the distance between them and the Lord.

Every evening, they return to Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are. We are also told that the leaders want a method to kill the man who was raised from the dead, along with the man who brought him back to life. We often miss that point.

Walking back and forth every day was better than taking a chance of being attacked in the dark in the city. Jerusalem, at this time, was not a city that did not sleep even during Passover.

Matthew tells us in chapter 24, verses 18-22, about Jesus cursing a fig tree. He spends this week teaching everything He needed to tell them before His trip to the cross. Each of the gospels reports these teaching opportunities one last time. Begin reading each of the accounts now to know the real story of the crucifixion.

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger