Tag: Palm Sunday

What Is The Significance Of The Day Of The Lulav?

Once again we are entering the wonderful season of Pesach/Passover. The remembrance of the Exodus from Egyptian bondage when the children of Israel left slavery behind; and the blood of an innocent lamb was smeared on the lintel and dalet/door posts, so the angel of death would see it and Pass-over that home. The firstborn of every household that had no blood applied died that night. The first Passover was a prophetic picture of the Messiah Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, Who came and was Himself the Passover Lamb and became the firstborn from the dead. He called Himself the Door/Dalet and His blood was shed so that when we apply it to our lives we have passed over from spiritual death to life.

There is so much prophetic symbolism and deep meaning in these events, much of which has been covered over the years in previous posts. However there are always pearls hidden for us to discover and as we often call the weekend prior to Passover Palm Sunday, let’s take a look at some things we may have missed.

Why do we call it Palm Sunday?

No doubt it is in reference to John 12:13:  “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”  

Some call this day the Triumphal Entry.

The people cried Hosanna which is really a Greek transliteration of the

Aramaic word Hoshanna, 

which means:

to save, rescue or help

and in this form it can be easily translated as 

Salvation has come. 

So when we read in the gospels that Messiah Yeshua/Jesus entered Yerushalayim/Jerusalem a week before His crucifixion, He was greeted with a crowd who were joyfully shouting: 

Salvation has come.

Picture this, that they were shouting salvation has come, as the road to Yerushalayim /Jerusalem was lined with thousands of the pilgrims who were commanded to present themselves every year at one of the 3 Shalosh Regalim, required Appointed Times/moedim. This moed was rehearsed annually by the Israelites believing that one day Messiah would come and this year He did!

In order to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, He purposely entered riding a donkey, and not only that but also to show that He was coming in peace/shalom. In those days when someone rode into a city on a horse it was usually to announce the presence of royalty and it could also indicate an intention to make war; so when the people saw Yeshua/Jesus ride in on a donkey everyone immediately understood that He was not there to set Himself up as a king nor to declare His intention to overthrow the existing government.  Again we miss so much when we are unaware of cultural symbolism and their significance, often misinterpreting the picture presented to us in scripture. Most of us have probably heard sermons which criticize the Jews of that time, saying that one week they were cheering Yeshua/Jesus and then the next week they were shouting demanding for his death; claiming that this change in attitude by the Jews is due to their disappointment when He didn’t lead the overthrow of the Roman government.

Here we should look at the situation where the crowd called for Barabbas to be set free and for Messiah to be crucified. There is no evidence, other than church tradition, that supports that all the people were wanting Messiah dead. In fact the court that Jesus/Yeshua was tried in when people cried out for His crucifixion could only hold 30-50 people. In the film The Passion of the Christ we are shown the most accurate scene where only a select few were allowed to be in the inner court and there was a small crowd of supporters pushing to gain access but were forced out. In Matthew 27:25 the scene before Pilate is known as the Pavement of Judgment and was part of the famous Antonio Fortress complex which served as a military barracks for the Roman soldiers guarding the Temple Mount and was large enough for only 300 people.

These were individuals gathered by and stirred up by the Cohen haGadol/High Priest, Sanhedrin and religious hierarchy. The Role Of The Sanhedrin Mark 15:11 notes, “the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead.” The Sanhedrin had already convicted Yeshua/Jesus of blasphemy (Luke 22:67-71) but lacked authority to enforce capital punishment (John 18:31).So it was not the thousands who had lined the road to Yerushalayim/Jerusalem but approx. between 50 – 300 people who demanded His death and declared his blood be upon us and our children, accepting guilt for His death. This means that it was confined only to those present and not to all of Israel; and further, Messiah Himself forgave them from the cross in Luke 23:34 and therefore it should not be viewed or used as a reason to fuel flames of anti-Semitism.

Sadly in some cases the church has portrayed the Jews as blood thirsty killers of the Messiah who demanded that He be put to death.  It should be remembered that the average Israelite had no desire for anyones execution, they had lived through wars and captivity and with the government of Rome using crucifixion the last thing they wanted was to see an execution of a holy man, a prophet and miracle worker. The sages had so many rules and regulations and appeals that had to be made recorded in their Oral Tradition, that it was almost impossible to execute someone because execution was hated so much. Even today Israel has outlawed capital punishment and apparently the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichman was the only person ever executed in Israel.

Another explanation of their rejection of Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah is that they turned on Him when he failed to set Himself up as King and yet, culturally and historically, the very fact that He rode in on a donkey and not a horse was clearly a signal of His true intentions. As Mary’s firstborn child He would be redeemed according to Torah requirements, Luke 2:22-24 (Numbers 3:47-48, 18:15-16.) and it is interesting that the Torah Exodus 13:13 further states that in firstborn livestock, a lamb would be sacrificed in place of the male donkey. A firstborn donkey may be purchased back from the Lord in exchange for a lamb or baby goat;

The Lamb rode a donkey,

the significance of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus riding on a firstborn donkey colt highlights Him as being the firstborn for humanity.

It is important to see that the people still cheered Him even though they realized He was coming in peace/shalom, and it was very likely that this display of love and adoration was what panicked the power held by the religious order of Orthodox Judaism and made them decide on a course of action resulting in their determination to put Yeshua/Jesus to death. 

But why specifically branches of the Palm tree?

In Hebrew the word for Palm Branches is

Lulav – לוּלָב 

spelled: Lamed Vav Lamed Vav

In Europe and the Middle East, palm branches symbolize many things, for example in ancient Greece, a palm branch was awarded to the victorious athlete because the palm leaf or even the tree itself was the most common symbol in Rome for Victory.  

To many it symbolized peace.

To the Assyrians it represented a connection between earth and heaven and it was associated with the goddess Ishtar (Easter) and the Mesopotamian goddess Inanna.  

To the ancient Egyptians it symbolizes eternal life. It was the sacred symbol for Apollo. 

So why were the crowds cheering? 

Is it possible that the people were not looking for a king or someone to overthrow the Roman Empire? They were well versed in the scripture of the TaNaKH and of the prophecy of a Messiah who would save them from their sins; One Who would bring them eternal salvation and they recognized Jesus/Yeshua as their Messiah.

The words they cried out: Hoshanna “Salvation has come” is exactly the same cry we have today as we declare our love and devotion to our Savior, Lord and King.

As for the palm branches? They mean a lot of things to different people in the Middle East, but to the Jews, the Hebrew word itself explains what it meant to them, Lulav. (Also used in the celebrations of the moed Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles.)

The Hebrew word Lulav:

Lu means: to or unto, and

Lav means: heart.

What they were showing by waving the palms was in other words…

We give you our hearts.

By the crowds greeting Him with Palm leaves was a clear sign that they accepted Him as their Messiah. 

This year, when we celebrate during Passover/Pesach week, we may not have a palm branch to wave, but we can cry out with great joy and thanksgiving… Hoshanna/ Hosanna – to you we give our hearts, Yeshua/Jesus our Messiah.

The Day of the Lulav – the Day of our heart cry!

Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen

More Than One Palm

As this iswhich of course it is referring to the day also called into Jerusalem and the branches of the palm trees. This is the day that palm fronds were waved by the crowds and together with Tallits, (prayer shawls/garments), were laid along the road for Messiah Jesus/Yeshua to ride over.What do Palm branches remind us of …? A tropical beach, southern climates, an oasis in the burning desert, children part of a procession dancing and singing Hosanna to the Son of David?

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming,
 sitting on a donkey’s colt!” (John 12:12-15 ESV)

The custom of palms traditionally at the end of ‘Lent’ in the Christian Church Calendar, can serve to remind us of a certain day in the month of Nisan, over 2000 years ago; because it has its roots in the Judeo/Christian and Hebrew Appointed Times/ Feasts of the children of Israel.In Jewish culture, palms were used for such an event because they are symbols of victory. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem amid shouts of praise and symbols of victory we clearly see the connection.

In the reference to the branch in Isaiah 11:1 Messiah Jesus IS the branch from the stem of Jesse growing out of his roots/stump.

Little did the people know that the victory Jesus would win was neither political nor military in nature but salvation victory.On His way to the cross, Jesus is riding into Jerusalem amid the shouts and palm branches where He won the victory for us over sin, death, and the power of the devil at the cross. The palms also representing the victory that Messiah Jesus/Yeshua won over our sinful, corrupt nature.

Click Link for https://www.minimannamoments.com/palm-sunday-nisan-the-appointed-time-of-the-lamb/

However as our English language often has the same word for two different meanings there is another connection here. Palm doesn’t just mean a certain type of tree, or the branch of that tree; It also refers to the part of our hands from the wrist to the base of the fingers.Our English word palm came from the Latin word for the tree or branch. One source says the word travelled to Northern Europe (where the English language developed) via the Christians bringing the word for the tree they used on Palm Sunday in celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.The English word palm, meaning the part of the hand, is used in an Old Testament Bible passage.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. 

Isaiah 49:16

In Isaiah 49:16 this is a reference declaring that we are written, inscribed, or engraved in the palms of His hands. God says this to us to remind us that He has not – and never will – forget us. Sometimes in stressful situations, it may ‘feel’ that He has; but God says this to us to remind us that He has not – and never will – forget us.And in Ps 31:15Our times are in His HandsWE are in HIS HAND –

Written on His hand.

Isaiah 49:16.See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. The word “engraved”, it is an eternal reminder, not just written, but ENGRAVED.

Behold I have graven

I have inscribed chaqaq חַקֹּתִ֑יךְ

(khaw-kak’) chak·ko·tich; to cut in, inscribe, decree; to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (gen.) prescribe.

Hebrew word for engrave is haqaq, meaning to mark out, inscribe, portrayed.

Portrayed means a representation of something, or in other words a picture, a picture of us engraved on the hands of the LORD. We look at our hands multiple times a day. When we worship Him they are open before Him, usually with our palms facing upwards in an attitude of openness and humility; giving of our love and gratefulness and also a readiness to receive. 

Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Is it possible that our names are written in His Book of Life not with ink, but with the Holy and Precious Blood of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua?

Is it possible that on that day of Triumphal entry, He knew the deeper significance of the word PALM? His Blood was shed on the cross when He died for our sins. Are our names written with the Blood of Jesus that flowed when nails where driven through the palms of His hands – thus marking Him for eternity??As scripture tells us, Jesus is ever interceding for us before the throne of God.. maybe with His hands open in prayer, pointing to them and saying, ‘Look at this one engraved on My palm, look at this picture of them portrayed on my palms. I love them, and I am praying to you Father for them, keep them safe for they are in covenant with Us.’For example a wedding ring on someone’s finger whenever they glance down at it, it is a constant reminder that they are married to someone, they will always think of the one they are married to when they see their wedding ring. However, it is only a temporary token, but to have someone engraved on the palm of the Lord’s hands it is eternal.

I have engraved thee upon the palms of my hands.

 We are on the palms כַּפַּ֖יִם

Hebrew: kaph כַּ (kaf)

The hollow hand or palm, so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power.

kap·pa·yim hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan from kaphaph Kaf כַּ, meaning Palm, Open hand cover, Allow.

Your walls are ever before me.Isaiah 49:16

Behold, I have graven (8804) thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. [of My hands]; Your walls חֹומֹתַ֥יִךְ

cho·v·mo·ta·yich

חוֹמָה Entry for Strong’s #02346 – wall – chômâh   kho-maw’  

In the time in which this was written, walls were used as writing tablets to record the chronological detail of someone’s life, and to display a person’s life achievements, identifying who they were and what they did, including if they had a family, or what kind of possessions they owned.

This amazing verse highlights how interested the LORD is in every detail of our lives. Not only are we engraved upon the palms of His hands, but our lives, ‘the wall of our life’ is before Him.

Nothing is hidden from the Lord, yet he still loves us with an everlasting love.By engraving our names on the palms of His hands He reveals the depths of His love towards us. We need to better understand the meaning of that word ‘engrave’, Its like tatooing. You cannot take it out. Once it is engraved, it is the part of the skin..There is no way to separate both. So our lives with all its boundaries are constantly viewed by God; and because of this promise, we are to have childlike faith and be anxious for nothing.Everything we lack, everything we are, our limitations, our expectations, our hopes and dreams, our brokenness…everything is like an open book before Him. He knows what we are going through, He knows our limits too.

The LORD will never let go of us.Why He has engraved us on His palms?…it’s because He wants to see us everyday, every moment of our lives…because each one of us is precious in His sight. Imagine, the creator of this world, has us on His palms. What else do we need in life? This is to remind us that there is a greater love than all the other relationships that we have on this earth. It is the love of Jesus.

He is the only one who chose to die for us. He shed his blood for us.He suffered the shame and pain to make us His own and we are engraved on His palms. Nobody else or any kind of situation can remove us from there unless we choose to leave, we are constantly in His presence.

He loves us and is constantly praying for us and thinking of us. Listen to tender words of love from Psalm 139:17 (NIV), ‘How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!’

This Passover season and as we celebrate Palm Sunday remember you were in His thoughts as He prepared to go to the cross.

We were and are Engraved in the palms of His hands, the same hands that were pierced through for our sorrows.

There is another fascinating connection to God, Palms and Israel….

Below a flattened out map shows Israel in the center.The most amazing thing is that the area around Jerusalem, Israel as seen from above, resembles a hand. (Almost like a glove or mitten.)Here are some pictures which seem to reveal that He has His hand positioned on, in and over Israel.Topographic Map of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5.6-10)

But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. 2 Chronicles 6:6

Is the Name of God Hidden on The Mountains of Israel?

A satellite picture made several years agoshows some Hebrew letters formed from the shadow of mountains on top of Israel.

This was looked at in depth in a previous post click link

https://www.minimannamoments.com/i-will-put-my-name-part-2/

Significance has been applied to the fact that there are three valleys that comprise the city of Jerusalem’s geography. This also has a connection to palm/hand.The Valley of Ben Hinnom, Tyropoeon Valley, and Kidron Valley, and that these valleys converge to also form the shape of the letter shin, the Temple in Jerusalem located approx. where the dagesh, the horizontal line is.This is seen as a fulfillment of passages such as Deuteronomy 16:2 that instructs the Israelites to celebrate the Pasach at ‘the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for his Name’. (NIV).

The first letter of ‘Shaddai’ in Hebrew is the letter shin (pronounced ‘sheen’). It is the 21 st letter of the Alef Bet (alphabet). See earlier posts for more.

The pictograph behind it is fire and teeth.

The word shin is spelled, shin-nun, (S N) from 

the Hebrew word for tooth is, shen and has the exact same spelling. Deut 9:3 

It is very significant and because of its importance to Shaddai one of the Names of God, a kohen (priest)  forms the letter Shin with his hands as he recites the Priestly Blessing.

Shaddai, meaning ‘the keeper of the doors of Israel’ and is also inscribed on the mezuzot placed on all the doorways of Jewish homes.The letter Shin is often inscribed on the case containing a mezuzah, a scroll of parchment with Biblical text written on it.

The text contained in the mezuzah is the Shema prayer, which calls the Israelites to love their God with all their heart, soul and strength. The mezuzah is situated upon all the door frames in a home or establishment. Sometimes the whole word Shaddai will be written.

 is said over the people, found in Numbers 6:24-26.

It is fairly well-known. However, lesser known, is the deeper meaning found
in the pictorial language of the ancient Hebrew.
It is not necessary for salvation to know and to search for the deeper meaning
but when we dig a little deeper, we are able to see additional beautiful pieces of the picture our Heavenly Father has been wanting us all to understand that we have all missed out on for so many generations.  In the following the information is:

Hebrew word(s)
English word
Ancient pictorial Hebrew language symbols
Name of the above symbols
Meaning found in the above symbols
Pictorial meaning of the word.

May YHVH bless you..and keep you…YHVH make His face..shineto you (upon you)and be gracious to youYHVH lift upHis countenanceto youand give youpeace.

 It could also be read this way:

YHWH, the head of the house with His own work 
strengthens His own hand–

by His work He binds and overpowers the destroyer 
using the authority in His hand–

YHWH, the Chief Ruler, He secures life and order, 
His teaching strengthens,

His work secures the hedge of strengthening life-

YHWH’s strong pressing hand lifts up, His work adds living utterance,

He strengthens authority, His hand destroys chaos,

His authority covers destroying the authority attached to chaos.

And we have His Name written upon our hands too, represented as the letter shinis seen in the lines of our palms.

And finally His very Name,Yeshua is also written upon your right hand. (In Hebrew letters):

 the Yud ” י ” (thumb),

the Shin ” ש ” (index/middle/ring),

the Vav ” ו ” (baby)

and the Ayin ” ע ” (palm to wrist).

In Hebrew: Yeshua ישוע (Jesus) אֲדֹנָי .

So everytime we look at our hands during the day remember God specifically tells us that He will not forget us. In fact, He says He cannot forget us because every time He looks at His hands, He remembers us. He has engraved us on the palms of His hands as a reminder of us, as a reminder to us of how much He loves us, as a reminder of what He did because He loves us; and amazingly His Name is recorded on ours! Right palm out and centered over head is our affirmation of Yeshua/Jesus Name. Particularly this coming week, as it is the week leading up to Passover… let’s remember what He did for us recalling His Palms of promise.Of all weeks in the year this is a perfect time to share the gospel message and make certain your family and friends are saved.

 Please don’t leave this page without the certainty in your heart that you are ENGRAVED IN HIS PALM.NOT SURE?

SAY THE PRAYER AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.

See other posts for details on Passover and His Spring Appointed Times/Feasts.

Not Passing Over

A Final P.S. Hand Of God Spotted By NASAs NuSTAR Space Telescope!

Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.

NOT CERTAIN? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/welcome-come-taste-some-bread-of-life-bread-from-heaven/life-changing-information-guaranteed/

PALM SUNDAY – Nisan – The Appointed Time Of The Lamb

 In a recent post Aviv was referenced as the Hebrew season of spring.

The  name of the Month in Hebrew is called Nisan.

(There is a wealth of information contained in this season and it can be overwhelming if it’s all new to the reader, so the beautiful story is examined, slowly unfolding it in small bite-sized portions.)

This year it is in April on our calendar and according to scripture it is the time of the beginning of the Spiritual New Year in Israel.

Shemoth (Exodus) 12:1 And YHWH spoke unto Moses/Mosheh and Aaron/Aharown in the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt) saying, 2. This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

The seasons are literally the appointed times of the Lord. They are the scriptural seasons that Jesus and all the New Testament authors celebrated.

This was to fall every year, 14 days before Passover (Pesach) in the month of the Abib (Aviv). In Nehemiah 2:1 & Esther 3:7, this first month on the Hebrew calendar began to be called “Nisan” while the House of Judah were in Babylonian exile.

Today, the rabbinic calendar still uses the Babylonian name of “Nisan” for the month of “Abib.”

The word “Abib” in the Strong’s Hebrew Concordance has the following definition: # 24 ‘abiyb aw-beeb’ from an unused root (meaning to be tender); green, i.e. a young ear of grain;

hence, the name of the month Abib or Nisan:–Abib, ear, green ears of corn (not maize).

Nisan The Appointed Time Of The Lamb BEGINS WITH

Jesus like all the sacrificial lambs had to be examined by the Priests. Luke 22:54

It was at the same time that the shepherds were herding the 1000’s of lambs into the Temple area ready for their examination over 4 days.

The seasons are literally the appointed times of the Lord, they are the scriptural seasons that Jesus and all the New Testament authors celebrated.

On Palm Sunday Jesus rode the donkey

in a procession from Bethphage, (the home of Lazarus),  and entered the Old City of Jerusalem,

through St. Stephen’s Gate (Lion’s Gate). 

The Lion’s Gate is located near Mount of Olives (seen through the gate in the picture above) and the Via Dolorosa.

This is one of the seven gates that were created in the wall of the old city,

and the only one that is open towards the east.

On  Palm  Sunday,

Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem at the SAME EXACT TIME the lambs were to be selected for the Passover sacrifice!

Matt 21:1-11 Mark 14:1,2 Luke 22:1,2 John 12:12

The crowd was loudly calling out Hosanna

Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.

Ps 118:26

In John 12:13, we are told this crowd including the disciples, thought He was the reigning Messiah as they understood from the Old Testament book of Zechariah in chapter 9:9

“behold your king is coming being seated upon the foal of a donkey”

This is significant as Messiah was being associated with a donkey rather than a horse ready for battle, because He is not depicted as a warrior but as a man of peace Who represents spiritual prosperity, (as was shown in the metaphor of the vineyard). His wars will be won by divine power not through force of arms.

Hoshea-na as in (Ps 118:25) means ‘Deliver us now’ or ‘Save us now’.

This comes from the same root as Yeshua, the Hebrew name of Jesus.

The ending ‘na’, is something we do not have a translation for in English. It’s a demanding ‘NOW’, that is neither rude nor impertinent. It is properly translated ‘Please’ or ‘I pray you’ or ‘Behold’.

The greeting and waving of palm fronds and branches were traditionally done on the 6th day of the feast of sukkot welcoming the reigning Messiah to assume the throne in Jerusalem. All those shouting Hoshea-na knew this and believed Yeshua was the Messiah who had come to claim His throne then and there.

See Matt 21:8,9 Mk 11:8,9 Lk 19:37,38 Jn 12:12,13

From Luke 19:35, the Greek word used for ‘garment’ is ‘imatia’, meaning, ‘cloak or outer garment’, it is used here and in vs. 35 and 36. The ‘cloak’ of a Jewish man was his prayer shawl, as can be seen in the picture below.

These were the ‘garments’ laid on the road before Him as he passed by 1000’s of people gathered in Jerusalem for Passover. One of three annually appointed times, that every Israelite was expected to attend.

Jesus  wept   over  Jerusalem  on  Palm  Sunday

because  Israel  did  not  know  the   time   and   importance   of   that   day.

What   will   Jesus   find   when   He   returns  soon  on  the  next  scheduled  feast  day?

LEVITICUS 23 is the single chapter of the entire Bible /Tanakh that sums up everything. God’s eternal plan — from chaos to eternity — is ingeniously revealed through the nature and timing of the Seven annual Feasts of the LORD.

Why do we need to look at what the feasts are called, when they happen and why they remain significant?

Sacrifice is the major feature of the feasts and knowledge of them enhances our faith.

“The Lord’s APPOINTED TIMES which you shall proclaim as HOLY CONVOCATIONS- MY APPOINTED TIMES ARE THESE.  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s PASSOVER.” (Leviticus 23:1,5)

It was on Mount Sinai that God gave Moses the dates and observances of the seven feasts. Here are their names:

  1. Passover (Pesach) – Nisan 14

  2. Unleavened Bread (Chag Hamotzi) – Nisan 15-22

  3. First Fruits (Yom habikkurim) – Nisan 16

  4. Pentecost (Shavu’ot) – Sivan 6

  5. Trumpets (Yom Teru’ah) – Tishri 1

  6. Atonement (Yom Kippur) – Tishri 10

  7. Tabernacles (Sukkot) – Tishri 15

When do they happen? God’s calendar is based on the phases of the moon. Each month in a lunar calendar begins with a new moon.

Pesach falls on the first full moon of Spring.

The first three feasts, Pesach/Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits fall in March and April.

The fourth one, Shavu’ot, Pentecost, marked the summer harvest and occurs in late May or early June.

The last three feasts, Trumpets, Yom Kippur and Sukkot happen in September and October.

The first 3 Spring Feasts occur all very close together. These are the ones that are happening right now and next post will shed a little more light on them.