Palm Sunday - March 20

Today, March 20, is Palm Sunday and is the beginning of Holy Week. It is the day that Christians believe Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The custom of the time was to cover the path of high-ranking people with palm fronds; palms were also a symbol of triumph and victory. Accounts of that procession appear in the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible that depict the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Because the processional was to start at 2 PM, students and service couples left at 1:30 in anticipation of this most memorable event!

This morning the weather didn't look promising because it was cold and windy (some rain) but by noon the sky turned blue and the sun came out. I snapped this photo on our way to Church of Bethphage on top of the Mount of Olives.

Thousands of people turn out to watch the processional of the Roman Catholic church. We walked to the Franciscan Church of Bethphage on top of the Mount of Olives. People from all over the world come to see and experience this event.

Photo: Limestone wall. All the buildings and walls in Israel are made of limestone. Once the stone is cut, it is then distressed.

Photo: Nolan and Colie, students from the Jerusalem Center. As we walked, people were gathering in the street and children were selling palm fronds for 10 shekles (about $2.50).

Dr. Skinner brought the Bible and read in Matthew 21.

I doubt we will ever forget this day as we stood and listened to Dr. Skinner read from Matthew 21 and to know we were standing close to the place of Jesus' triumphal entry. We arrived at the church where the procession was to begin and waited for it to start. Everyone was so happy and people were singing, playing guitar, and beating on drums.

Boy Scouts from many places marched in the procession. March 24 is also called Holy Thursday.

In some churches, the palms are saved and burnt into ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday of the next year.

Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday.

The name in Hebrew means “House of unripe figs” — recalling that in this area Jesus caused a fig tree with no fruit to wither (Matthew 21:18-22).

Holy Week begins as a joyous celebration, but the stories in the Bible detail that in a matter of days Jesus will be betrayed, will have His Last Supper with his 12 apostles, will be arrested, crucified and buried in a tomb.

March 25, 2016: Good Friday marks the day Jesus died on the cross and acquired significance as a Christian holy day in the late 4th century.

People of all ethnic and religious backgrounds came out to join in the parade.

Many observe Good Friday by fasting and attending church services.

Photo: Chris & Dr. David Heiner

As we were walking back to the JC, we recognized one of the cooks who works in the Oasis. He was thrilled to see us and invited his family to meet us. Every employee at the JC is dedicated to their work and they are great examples to everyone.

This Catholic priest had a beautiful family! On Easter Sunday, joy returns in the faith, as Christians celebrate the holiest day of the year, the day they believe Jesus was resurrected.

The children are beautiful and Garth enjoyed a few "Give me 5's".