Neighborhood Ministries

Palm Sunday (A) Palm Sunday is a perfect example of what happens when we put our agenda before God’s agenda. Palm Sunday celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The people waved palm branches and laid them on the road before Jesus to celebrate His coming because they thought He was coming to overthrow the Romans and set them free from the domination of the Romans so He could set up His kingdom on earth. However, the Passover celebrates the time in Egypt when the lamb was slain to atone for their sins and the blood put on the doorpost before the coming of the angel of death, to show the sacrifice had been made. It foretold when the Lamb of God (Jesus) would come to die on the cross to take away the sins of the world and set us free from the power of sin and death. When we stand before the throne in heaven, if our heart is cleansed by the blood of Christ, it will testify that the sacrifice has been made. Had the Jews remembered the meaning of the Passover, they would have recognized what Jesus came to do.

Good Friday/Black Friday-A Good Friday (also called Black Friday) celebrates Jesus’ death on the cross that bought our redemption. The color is Black symbolizing mourning. Many people wonder how Jesus could be in the tomb for three days if He was crucified on Friday and rose on Sunday morning. Actually the Jewish day begins at sundown so Jesus ate supper with His disciples on Thursday evening (after sundown on our Wednesday) and was crucified on the following morning (still Thursday). He was buried on Thursday before sundown and spent from late Thursday afternoon to early Sunday morning in the grave. Since our day runs from midnight to midnight, we celebrate Maundy Thursday and the crucifixion a day late.