《马太福音》21:1～9 （圣经标准译本）

1 当耶稣和门徒们临近耶路撒冷，来到橄榄山附近的伯法其的时候，耶稣派了两个门徒， 2 对他们说：“你们到对面的村子里去，会立刻发现一头驴拴在那里，还有一头驴驹与它在一起。把它们解开，牵来给我。 3 如果有人对你们说什么，你们就说‘主需要它们，会很快把它们送来的。’”

4 这件事发生，是为要应验那藉着先知所说的话：

5 “要对锡安的女儿说

‘看哪，你的王来到你这里，

是谦和的，骑着驴——

一头小驴，

就是驴的驹子。’”

6 两个门徒就去，照着耶稣所吩咐的做了。 7 他们牵来了驴和驴驹，把外衣搭在它们背上，耶稣就坐在上面。 8 有一大群人把自己的外衣铺在路上，也有人从树上砍下枝子铺在路上。 9 前行后随的人群呼喊说：

“和散那归于大卫的后裔！

奉主名而来的那一位——

是蒙祝福的！

在至高之处——和散那！”

格蕾丝·福克斯:

棕树节标志着受难周的第一天，这一天我们在人群的欢呼声中庆祝耶稣进入耶路撒冷。 我们专注于挥舞着棕榈树枝和欢呼声，但很快就变成了嘲笑。 但这个故事还有另一个角度——一个值得仔细研究的角度。

随着升天的时间临近，耶稣毅然启程前往耶路撒冷。 – 路加福音 9:51

圣经告诉我们，耶稣毅然动身前往耶路撒冷。 一些圣经版本说祂“决定要去”。 毫无疑问，耶稣已经下定决心要去那里旅行，没有人能说服祂不这样做。 这是绝对的：祂这样做是因为祂知道祂的凯旋进入标志着祂在地球上的时间结束的开始。 祂知道祂会死在那里，但祂还是去了。

如果我知道如果我访问某个城市对我来说意味着死亡，我就会改变我的计划。 你不会吗？ 但耶稣绝不会考虑这样的逃避。 祂将自己交给了刽子手，祂这样做是出于祂的选择。

“没有人夺去我的生命，是我自愿舍弃的。我有权柄舍弃生命，也有权柄再把它取回来。这命令，我已经从我父领受了。”（约翰10:18 圣经标准译本）

耶稣为什么要这样做呢？ 因为祂爱世人。 祂说，“一个人为他的朋友舍弃自己的生命，人的爱没有比这更大的了。”（约翰15:13 圣经标准译本）

基督对我们的爱把祂带到了耶路撒冷，然后是各各他。 上帝为了祂的荣耀和我们的利益而安排了发生的事件，尽管付出了代价，耶稣还是心甘情愿地扮演了主角。

耶稣下定决心要做出有史以来最有爱心的举动。 今天，我们庆祝他进入耶路撒冷。 我们可以通过爱别人来做到这一点。 打电话给某人，告诉他们你爱他们。 送饭、 邮寄一张卡片；做一些事情，让人感受到“你被爱了！”

讨论问题：

1. 描述耶稣如何进入耶路撒冷，以及祂为什么骑着驴？

2. 当祂进入耶路撒冷时，人群做了什么？

3. 耶稣对耶路撒冷之行了解多少？祂为什么要去那里？

4. 我们为什么要爱别人？

5. 你对耶稣所做的感到惊讶吗？

6. 什么是棕树节？

7. 如果你知道去某个地方会让你处于危险之中，你还会去吗？ 为什么？

Matthew 21:1-9 (NLT)

1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

5  “Tell the people of Jerusalem,

    ‘Look, your King is coming to you.

    He is humble, riding on a donkey—

    riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!

    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

    Praise God in highest heaven!”

By Grace Fox

Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the day we celebrate Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem amid the crowd’s fanfare. We focus on waving palm branches and cheers that quickly turned to derision. But there’s another angle to this story — one that deserves a closer look.

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. – Luke 9:51

Scripture tells us that Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Some Bible versions say He “was determined to go.” Without doubt, Jesus had made up His mind to travel there, and no one could convince Him otherwise. Here’s the nugget: He did so knowing that His triumphal entry marked the beginning of the end of His time on earth. He knew He’d die there, yet He went.

If I knew that visiting a particular city meant death for me, I’d change my plans. Wouldn’t you? But Jesus would never have considered such a cop-out. He delivered Himself to His executioners, and He did so by choice.

No one can take my life from me, He said. I sacrifice it voluntarily. — John 10:18, NLT

Why would Jesus do such a thing? Because love compelled Him. He said,

The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. — John 15:13 NLT

Christ’s love for us led Him to Jerusalem and then Golgotha. God ordained the events that took place for His glory and our good, and Jesus willingly played the leading role despite the cost.

Jesus resolutely made the decision to do the most loving act in all of history. Today, we celebrate His entry into Jerusalem. We can do that by loving others. Call someone and tell them you love them. Send a meal. Mail a card. Do something that says “You are loved!”

Source: https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/palm-sunday-the-loving-act

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe how Jesus entered Jerusalem, and why he rode on a donkey?

2. What did the crowd do as he entered Jerusalem?

3. What did Jesus know about his trip to Jerusalem and why did he go there?

4. Why should we love others?

5. Are you amazed by what Jesus did?

6. What is Palm Sunday?

7. If you knew going somewhere will put you in danger, would you still go?  Why?