A Good Friday and Easter Reflection 2025.
Dear Andrew, Thank you for inviting me to write for your music blog again.
Reply: Again my appreciation to a good friend for the short time given him, two days, to write this exceptionally informative piece. He doesn't prepare much; it's all there in his memory. Thanks again Phil.
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus to Jerusalem:
John 12:12-13 : "The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting: 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!' " [above image]
Where did the waving of Palm branches originate from ?
The last Biblical prophet Malachi delivered his prophecies around 430 BC. After this, there was a period of silence (i.e. no new prophetic messages from God were given) until the time of John the Baptist who baptised Jesus. During this period, a violent Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire took place around 167 BC. The Maccabees and victory eventually led to the re-dedication of the Temple in the old city of Jerusalem. It is here where palm branches were first used to celebrate this triumphant victory over the Seleucids.
The Maccabean victory celebration also commemorates the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. Interestingly, during this first celebration, the people who served in the temple found only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, but it miraculously burned for eight days. This is a well-known account. Originally, menorahs only had seven branches. After the miraculous incident, Jewish menorahs [image] are now made with nine branches, instead of seven.
Jesus on a colt entering into Jerusalem:
But Jesus did not come as a mighty warrior to overthrow the Romans. Jesus rode on a donkey’s colt into Jerusalem instead of a horse (for a warrior). A colt is a male donkey under four years old. Donkeys are equestrian animals like horses. One needs to train the young donkey first before putting a saddle on its back and letting anyone ride on it safely. It seems the initial training involves using a blanket like a covering for the back of the colt so that eventually, the colt will get used to the saddle.
Luke 19:29-31: As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
Amazingly, Jesus rode on colt that no one had ever ridden before in the midst of a hysterical crowd as He entered Jerusalem. Somehow the colt was not startled. Perhaps this in itself is a miracle! Jesus came to bring peace and save, giving mankind a means to enter the Kingdom of God.
This episode was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
In the Old Testaments, Moses, King David, King Solomon, Abraham (though not explicitly) and prophets rode on donkeys too.
Special Provision for Donkeys:
Deuteronomy 5:13-14 :
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do."
Donkeys may be stubborn but are dependable. The colt is given this honorable duty to carry our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Interestingly, sheep is not suitable for this heavy work and it is not mentioned above that sheep need Sabbath rest. More details about the donkey’s role in the story of the Good Samaritan can be found in a previous 2021 Easter Reflection:
Reflections On Easter - 2021 - Phil Chan:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/12/christmas-message-away-in-manger-jesus.html
Some spiritual thoughts for this Easter meditation:
Issachar was the fifth son of Jacob born to the unloved wife Leah. It is interesting to note how Jacob blessed Issachar and his sons as quiet dependable donkeys with understanding.
Perhaps we could meditate on the following verses this season.
Gen 49:11, "He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes."
Gen 49:14-15, "Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between the sheepfolds. When he saw that a resting place was good. And that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens, And became a slave at forced labor."
1 Chronicles 12:32 : "Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command."
Though Issachar did not emerge as a leader with high ambitions like some of the other illustrious brothers such as Joseph or Judah, he did receive positive blessings from his father Jacob. Issachar’s tribe is hardworking, diligent and contented workers who enjoy taking take time off to appreciate the land allocated to them. Issachar’s sons are known to be wise men.
Author: Associate Prof., Phil Chan [Dr.]
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