Palm Sunday in Jerusalem

It's wonderful to be in Jerusalem this time of year because we are celebrating Holy Week of Easter in Israel.  Each year, thousands of Christian pilgrims come to visit so they can trace the footsteps of Jesus and his last moments. 

April 9, 2017 in Jerusalem

Holy Week celebrations started April 9 with the traditional Palm Sunday processional.  

We were in Jerusalem last year and anxious to participate once again in the event. The processional was due to start at 2:30 PM so the Jerusalem Center students gathered to walk from the lower entrance of the center to the location where the procession would start. 

Spring flowers at the Jerusalem Center

During the entire week, Christians will gather for Mass and special services held all over the Old City.  



One hour before the parade was to start, we walked down the hill where we could watch. Hundreds of people began walking toward the Bethpage Church where the Greek Catholic Priests would lead the procession.  We spotted a Muslim man walking along with his donkey so I grabbed my camera.

We weren't sure why this Muslim man was coming with his donkey laden with olive branches (a symbol of peace of victory) but it was certainly worth a photo. 
Muslims do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah but honor him as a prophet.  

Bus loads of tourists came to participate in this special event. Zechariah, the prophet, foretold of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  

The procession would be led by the Greek Catholic Bishop from the Mount of Olives at Bethpage Church to Saint Ann's church on the Via Dolorosa.  

The three knots of this nun's robe symbolically represent poverty, obedience and chastity.

In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness, well-being and victory and were often depicted on coins and important buildings. King Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple:

1 Kings 6:29:  On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers.

The students were excited to participate and many purchased palm branches.  

The Bible tells us people cut branches from palm trees, laid them across Jesus' path and waved them in the air. They greeted Jesus shouting, "Hosanna" or "save now."  At that time, many thought of Jesus as a potential leader who would overthrow the Romans and not as the Messiah. 

We LOVE the students!   
They have become our "family" away from home.

The Via Dolorosa was the route Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and his crucifixion and burial.  

The Bible says that people from every nation will raise palm branches to honor Jesus.

Revelation 7: 9 - After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

The procession usually consists of Christians of many denominations but especially Catholics and Orthodox. However, many viewed the procession from their rooftops or sat on the tops of the block fences to watch.   

The Palm Sunday processional is one of Jerusalem's most interesting parades and we had the privilege to take Rand and Julie Brown, friends who stopped in Jerusalem on their return to the US from a service mission to Romania. 

Weatherwise it was a perfect day so we bought some palm branches and walked to a place where we could watch and see it again.

Fourteen stations have been established for the Via Dolorosa.  It has great meaning for Christians who walk along the proximity
 to the original events and reflect upon them along the way.  

People brought musical instruments so they could sing or chant along the way.

Christians waved palm branches to symbolize how Jesus was greeted over 2,000 years ago as He triumphantly entered Jerusalem. 

The crowd hailed from many countries carrying flags, banners and palm branches as they sang and cried "Hosanna, Hosanna" while playing and singing songs about Jesus.

Joshua is one of the "heartthrobs" this semester.  He is not only a genuinely nice young man but is extremely musically talented.  In our Formal Talent Show, he performed a flawless performance of Debussy's "Claire de Lune" and you could hear the sighs of girls  in the audience.

One of our professors, Dr. Esplin, came with his young family.

Garth has a lot more white in his hair since we've lived in Jerusalem. 

Roman

We enjoyed the afternoon with our friends.   There was a a happy, carnival atmosphere as the procession made its way along the main street of the Mount of Olives.

The procession ended and soldiers were there to ensure no more people would be walking up the street of the Mount of Olives.

Holy Week to be continued . . .