Today is Palm Sunday.\u00a0 It is the Sunday about 2,000 years ago that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.\u00a0\u00a0 As He entered the city, the crowd cheered \u201cHosannas\u201d and waved their palm branches. Many people shed their cloaks and placed them in the path of the oncoming donkey, forming a pavement of cloth for the donkey to tread upon.\u00a0 In the crowd\u2019s mind, all of this had a purpose.\u00a0 They understood Jesus\u2019 decision to ride a donkey into the city to be in satisfaction of Zechariah\u2019s prophecy: \u00a0\u201cRejoice 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.\u201d\u00a0 (Zechariah 9:9, NIV84)[1]\u00a0 Yes, Jesus was (and is) a King.\u00a0 In fact, He is the King of kings.[2]\u00a0 But, as we will see, the salvation Jesus offered was quite different than the salvation the crowd had in mind.\u00a0 The chanting of \u201cHosannas\u201d derived from a Hebrew phrase meaning \u201cI beg you to save us\u201d or \u201cplease deliver us.\u201d [3]\u00a0 It is significant that many in the crowd added \u201cSon of David\u201d to their cheers.\u00a0 This was a clear assertion that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah whom the people expected to save them from Rome\u2019s harsh rule.[4]\u00a0 But, the people were only half correct.\u00a0 Yes, Jesus was, indeed, the\u00a0 Messiah\u2014The Son of God. \u00a0That much they got right.\u00a0 But, He didn\u2019t come as a military messiah who\u2019d kill Israel\u2019s enemies.\u00a0 Rather, Jesus\u2019 mission was the opposite:\u00a0 He came to save people from their real enemy\u2014Satan.\u00a0 He came as a sacrifice for their sins and to give them eternal life.<\/p>\n
The crowd\u2019s misguided understanding as to why Jesus had come to this earth was further indicated by their waving of the palm branches and their tossing of garments in the path of the donkey.\u00a0 The palm branches were a symbol of the hope that the nation of Israel would be resurrected and shed the bonds that kept them under Roman rule.[5]\u00a0 And, the Old Testament provided precedence that throwing garments in the path of an incoming donkey hailed its rider as being a king.[6]\u00a0 But, again, the king they envisioned would sit only on an earthly throne.\u00a0 Once Jesus went to the Cross and was resurrected from the Tomb, He would complete His mission on earth.\u00a0 Then, Jesus would ascend to Heaven where He took His place\u2014not on some mere earthly throne\u2014but on the throne at the right hand of His Father.[7]<\/p>\n
But, I am getting a bit ahead of myself.\u00a0 We need to go back to that cheering crowd that was making such a joyful sound on that first Palm Sunday.\u00a0 They made quite a noise\u2014so much, in fact, that the sound could be heard in the prison cells of the fortress of Antonia located next to the Temple complex.\u00a0 It was there that the Romans had confined three infamous criminals. \u00a0One of those prisoners was named \u201cBarabbas\u201d.\u00a0 But, his two accomplices were thieves who remain anonymous.\u00a0 \u00a0A number of New Testament scholars theorize that Barabbas and these two thieves were involved in a riot near an aqueduct in Jerusalem.\u00a0 This riot had occurred shortly before Jesus made His entry into Jerusalem.\u00a0 During this act of rebellion, several Roman soldiers were murdered\u2014probably by the hand of Barabbas.\u00a0 Circumstantial evidence leads to the conclusion that Barabbas led this insurrection, and these two thieves were involved in the looting that followed.\u00a0 All three were apprehended by the Roman authorities and were sentenced to be crucified on the Friday following Jesus\u2019 arrival in Jerusalem.[8]<\/p>\n
The scholars who hold to this historical account find support from several biblical passages. \u00a0\u00a0John\u2019s Gospel indicates that Barabbas was, in fact, an insurrectionist who was actively engaged in rebellion against Roman rule.[9]\u00a0 Mark\u2019s Gospel adds that he was a murderer whose victims may well have been the aforementioned Roman soldiers.[10] \u00a0Barabbas was probably a member of the paramilitary group known as the Zealots who sought to overthrow Roman rule by any means possible\u2014no matter how violent.[11]\u00a0 \u00a0With this background in mind, there was quite a contrast when comparing Barabbas to Jesus. \u00a0Ironically, Barabbas\u2019 name means \u201cson of the father.\u201d\u00a0 On the other hand, Jesus was the true Son of the Father who lives in Heaven.\u00a0 Barabbas was committed to killing his enemies, whereas Jesus taught us to love our enemies.[12]\u00a0 \u00a0Barabbas was a murderer whose riots brought on violence and chaos to those all around him.\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus is the Prince of Peace who offers quiet rest for your soul.[13]\u00a0 The differences between these two men could not have been greater.\u00a0 Yet, as we will see, when it came time for the crowd to choose one over the other, they made an incredibly poor choice. \u00a0With respect to the two other prisoners accompanying Barabbas, we do not know much about\u00a0 their personal histories.\u00a0\u00a0 Matthew\u2019s Gospel identifies both of them as thieves, which is consistent with their probable role in the riot near the aqueduct.[14]\u00a0 When Jesus went to the Cross, He encountered these two rebellious thieves and, thus, satisfied the prophecy in Isaiah 53 which predicted: 12b\u00a0 \u201cHe was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.\u201d\u00a0 (Isaiah 53:12, NLT)\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Now, let\u2019s go back to the scene on that first Palm Sunday.\u00a0 Barabbas and his two companions listened intently to the cheering of the crowds.\u00a0 They noticed a wariness in the eyes of the Roman guards.\u00a0 And, they could hear them murmuring something about the \u201cKing of the Jews\u201d was coming and that they should be on alert for any trouble that might follow.\u00a0 \u00a0The guards\u2019 caution was warranted because, on the Monday, Jesus went to the Temple.\u00a0 The cheering crowd likely expected Jesus to commence His effort to overthrow the Romans.\u00a0 But, Jesus had a different target in mind to overthrow. He was outraged at the way the merchants and Jewish religious leaders had made His Father\u2019s House a \u201cden of thieves.\u201d[15]\u00a0 And so, Jesus overturned the tables of the merchants and money changers and drove them out of the Temple courts.\u00a0 This is not what the crowd expected at all.\u00a0 They wanted Jesus to conquer the Romans.\u00a0 They failed to understand that He had come to conquer the sin in their hearts.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 opponents among the Jewish religious leaders were sure to use this event to discredit Jesus.\u00a0 As the week went on, that is exactly what they did.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Jesus returned to the Temple where His authority was challenged by the Jewish religious leaders.\u00a0 Nevertheless, Jesus continued to teach the people using parables and even prophesying about His coming death.[16]\u00a0 Wednesday was likely a peaceful day spent in Bethany with His disciples.[17]\u00a0 But, that peace was short-lived because the events on Thursday and Friday passed with the speed of a whirlwind.<\/p>\n
On Thursday evening, Jesus celebrated the first \u201cLord\u2019s Supper\u201d with His disciples[18] and taught them a valuable lesson about servanthood as He washed each disciples\u2019 feet.[19]\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Jesus then led His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed so intently that droplets of blood mixed with the perspiration that flowed down His face.[20] And, then perhaps the greatest \u201ccriminal\u201d in Jerusalem that evening approached Jesus and kissed Him on the cheek.\u00a0 It was Judas Iscariot who led the Temple guards to the garden to arrest Jesus.[21] \u00a0And, as the late hours of Thursday night merged into the early hours of Friday morning, \u00a0Jesus was led to be tried by the Jewish religious leaders and by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.[22]<\/p>\n
It was on that darkest of Fridays that those three criminals, waiting in their prison cell, once again made their prominent appearances.\u00a0 You see, when Pilate conducted his trial of Jesus, the verdict was very clear.\u00a0 Pilate turned to the crowd that had gathered in the early morning light and declared Jesus to be innocent.[23]\u00a0 But, that verdict would not satisfy them and Pilate sensed their displeasure.\u00a0 He also noticed the angry frowns on the faces of those Jewish religious leaders who had been plotting all week to have Jesus killed.\u00a0 Pilate knew that his own standing with the emperor in Rome was already at an all-time low.\u00a0 If word got back to Rome that he had caused a riot because he had let a wandering preacher like Jesus go free, Pilate knew that he\u2019d likely lose his position as governor.\u00a0 So, in his devious mind, Pilate quickly hatched a plan and had Barabbas brought from his prison cell.\u00a0 Barabbas was placed beside Jesus.\u00a0 Pilate then presented both to the crowd and\u00a0 said:\u00a0 39\u00a0\u201cYou have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? [referring to Jesus]\u201d 40a\u00a0They shouted back, \u201cNot this man, but Barabbas!\u201d John 18:39\u201340 (CSB) \u00a0\u00a0The amazing thing is that many who called out the name \u201cBarabbas\u201d were the very same ones who had cried out \u201cHosannas\u201d to Jesus the previous Sunday as he rode in on the donkey!\u00a0 John\u2019s Gospel tells us the chief priests and religious leaders joined the chorus against Jesus and added the hateful chant: \u201cCrucify Him! Crucify Him!\u201d[24]\u00a0 And, despite having found Jesus not guilty, that\u2019s exactly what Pilate allowed them to do!<\/p>\n
You see, the crowd made the same mistake that many people do today.\u00a0 They wanted to mold Jesus into the person they wanted Him to be.\u00a0 Instead, they should have allowed Jesus into their hearts to turn them into the kind of people God had intended them to be.\u00a0 Yes, the crowd wanted Jesus to be their military leader and rid the land of Romans.\u00a0 But, God had sent His Son to be their Lord and Savior to set them free from the bonds of Satan.<\/p>\n
Once Pilate washed his hands of the matter, Jesus was led outside the gates of Jerusalem and up the hill known as Calvary\u2014which in Aramaic is \u201cGolgotha\u201d meaning \u201cPlace of the Skull.\u201d [25] There, He met the two criminals who had been Barabbas\u2019 partners in crime.\u00a0 They had carried their crosses to this place of execution.\u00a0 But, they were probably astounded to see that someone other than Barabbas was nailed on the third cross between the two of them.\u00a0 \u00a0Finally, they realized it was Jesus whom they had heard so much about.\u00a0 And, as Jesus and these two criminals hung there on their crosses, Luke\u2019s Gospel describes an amazing conversation that took place among them:\u00a0 39\u00a0\u201cThen one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: \u2018Aren\u2019t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!\u2019 40\u00a0But the other answered, rebuking him: \u2018Don\u2019t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41\u00a0We are punished justly, because we\u2019re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.\u2019 \u00a042\u00a0Then he said, \u2018Jesus, remember Me when You come into your kingdom.\u2019 43\u00a0And [Jesus] said to him, \u2018Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 (Luke 23:39\u201343, CSB)<\/p>\n
The thief that honored Jesus offers a stark contrast with the religious leaders standing nearby who hurled all kinds of insults at Jesus. They had studied the Old Testament texts almost daily from the time they were children.\u00a0 They had always worshipped God on the Sabbath and followed every rule they could think of.\u00a0 But, there was one crucial thing they failed to do.\u00a0 They had never allowed God into their hearts.\u00a0 Because of that, these pious priests, rabbis and Pharisees could not see that the very One they were crucifying was God\u2019s only Son.\u00a0 And so, they were spiritually lost and bound for Hell.<\/p>\n
Yet, one of the two thieves hanging next to Jesus had the spiritual insight to open his heart to Jesus.\u00a0 When this criminal allowed that to happen, his spiritual eyes were opened.\u00a0 From a spiritual standpoint, this thief, who acknowledged Jesus\u2019 divinity, had been a lot like Barabbas in a negative way.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0But, having encountered Christ, the thief\u2019s appearance changed completely.\u00a0 He was a brand-new man from a redemptive standpoint. The twist to this whole event is when Barabbas appeared before Pilate.\u00a0 Pilate\u2019s actions had the effect of transferring Barabbas\u2019 guilt over to Jesus, and Jesus\u2019 innocence over to Barabbas.\u00a0 Barabbas was treated as if he were innocent, and Jesus would end up dying for Barabbas\u2019 crimes.\u00a0 That is what Jesus did for the thief on the Cross who went with Him to Paradise.\u00a0 That is what Jesus does for you when you repent of your sins and accept Him as your Lord and Savior.\u00a0 Theologically, we call this \u201catonement.\u201d\u00a0 In other words, on the Cross, Jesus paid for the crimes (sins) of those who abandon their worldly lifestyles and accept His Way.\u00a0 And, what is Jesus\u2019 Way?\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201cI am the Way and the Truth and the Life.\u00a0 No one comes to the Father except through Me.\u201d (John 14:6, NIV84)\u00a0 The \u201cWay\u201d is the Way of the Cross.\u00a0 The \u201cTruth\u201d is the Truth of God\u2019s Word.\u00a0 And, the \u201cLife\u201d is something only Jesus can give because He is the sole source of Eternal Life.<\/p>\n
When Jesus died on the Cross, His spirit ascended into Heaven\u2014as did the spirit of the repentant thief.\u00a0 Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placed Jesus\u2019 body in a tomb.\u00a0 A large stone was rolled over the entrance to the tomb and sealed.\u00a0 On that first Easter morning, Jesus emerged from that tomb in a wonderful, resurrected body. (We\u2019ll talk more about that next week.)\u00a0 One day soon, the repentant thief, and all those who genuinely give their lives to Christ, will receive their resurrected bodies as well, and will dwell in Jesus\u2019 Millennial Kingdom!<\/p>\n
That coming resurrection of all God\u2019s people is something we will celebrate in a special way in a few minutes as we will observe the Ordinance of Baptism\u2014three baptisms, in fact!\u00a0 I say this because the Christian ordinance of baptism has as its foundation the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. \u00a0Did you know that?\u00a0 Baptisms look to the resurrection of our bodies in the Rapture that will occur near the End of Time.\u00a0 In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul said: 3 \u201cDon\u2019t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a NEW LIFE. 5 If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.\u201d\u00a0 (Romans 6:3\u20135, NIV84) \u00a0\u00a0Then, in his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul further explained:\u00a0 12\u00a0\u201cFor you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to NEW LIFE because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13\u00a0You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14\u00a0He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the Cross. 15\u00a0In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the Cross.\u201d\u00a0 (Colossians 2:12\u201315, NLT)<\/p>\n
Notice Paul\u2019s emphasis on the NEW LIFE that baptism signifies.\u00a0 You abandon worldly lifestyles that are contrary to God\u2019s Word, and are born-again in Christ.\u00a0 Paul expressed it this way:\u00a0 \u201cAll who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.\u201d\u00a0 (Galatians 3:27, NLT) Yes!\u2014it\u2019s like throwing away your torn and filthy rags of the world, and putting on a sparkling, new wardrobe Christ offers!<\/p>\n
And so, baptism is an outward expression of a believer\u2019s faith and confession that Jesus is Lord of their life, and that God raised Him from the dead.[26]\u00a0 It is not that baptism saves you.\u00a0 Rather, it is the public expression, that by the blood of Christ, you have already been saved through your faith in Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Now, through your baptism, you want all the world to know that salvation is only through Christ alone.\u00a0 For as the Apostle Peter preached:\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSalvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.\u201d\u00a0 (Acts 4:12, NIV84)<\/p>\n
And finally, baptism is also connected to Palm Sunday because it is a public declaration that when you sing out \u201cHosanna,\u201d it isn\u2019t an empty cry\u2014as it appears to have been for many who shouted and waved their branches as Jesus rode into town on that first Palm Sunday. \u00a0For those baptized in Christ, they don\u2019t have to beg to the Lord, \u201cPlease save us\u201d\u2014for they know, that through faith in Him\u2014they are, indeed, already saved.<\/p>\n
What about you?\u00a0 You see, all of us are thieves hanging on a cross.\u00a0 The question is which thief are you?\u00a0 The one who continues to insult Jesus through the way you are living your life?\u2014or, the one who went with Him to Paradise?\u00a0 If you are still wearing the rags of this world, it\u2019s time to get a new set of clothes.\u00a0\u00a0 The thief on the Cross, who expressed regret for his past sins and acknowledged Jesus\u2019 coming kingdom, was baptized by the Holy Spirit as he hung there.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t experienced such a baptism, there is no better time than now to let Christ into your life.\u00a0 The baptismal pool is waiting for you.\u00a0 I invite you to come on in\u2014the water is fine!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor<\/p>\n
Forest Hill Baptist Church<\/p>\n
March 29, 2026<\/p>\n
\u00a92026 All Rights Reserved as follows:<\/p>\n
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God\u2019s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.<\/p>\n
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Visit us on our Face Book page at https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4409sspotswoodrdgordonsvilleva.<\/p>\n
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[1] See: Matthew 21:1\u201311.<\/p>\n
[2] Revelation 19:16, \u201c\u00a0And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.\u201d (CSB)<\/p>\n
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[3] Got Questions Ministries. 2002\u20132013. Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.<\/p>\n
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[4] John H. Walton and Kim E. Walton, The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 304.<\/p>\n
[5] Ibid. John H. Walton and Kim E. Walton,\u00a0304.<\/p>\n
[6] 2nd Kings 9:13 \u201c They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, \u2018Jehu is king!\u2019\u201d\u00a0 (NIV84)<\/p>\n
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[7] Mark 16:19 \u201c After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.\u201d\u00a0 (NIV84)<\/p>\n
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[8] Richard R. Losch, in All the People in the Bible: An A\u2013Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008), 55\u201356.
\nWilliam E. Barton, \u201cAn Appeal from a Verdict of History,\u201d Bibliotheca Sacra (1896), 103\u2013104.<\/p>\n
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[9] John 18:40,\u00a0 \u201cThey shouted back, \u2018No, not him! Give us Barabbas!\u2019 Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.\u201d\u00a0 (NIV84)<\/p>\n
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[10] Mark 15:6\u20137,\u00a0 6 \u201cNow it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.\u201d\u00a0 (NIV84)<\/p>\n
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[11] Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. 1988. \u201cBarabbas.\u201d In Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, 1:263. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.<\/p>\n
[12] Matthew 5:43\u201345 \u00a0\u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.\u2019 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.\u201d\u00a0 (NIV84)<\/p>\n
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[13] Isaiah 9:6 \u201cFor unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.\u201d (NKJV)<\/p>\n
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[14] Matthew 27:43\u201344 \u00a043\u00a0He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have him: for He said, \u2018I am the Son of God.\u2019 44\u00a0The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth.\u201d\u00a0 (KJV)<\/p>\n
[15] Matthew 21:13 \u201c\u00a0He said to them, \u2018It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!\u2019\u201d, (CSB)<\/p>\n
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[16] John 12:23-25\u00a0 23 \u00a0And Jesus answered them, \u201cThe hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 \u00a0Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 \u00a0Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.\u201d (ESV)<\/p>\n
[17] Neil Wilson and Linda K. Taylor, Tyndale Handbook of Bible Charts and Maps, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 288.<\/p>\n
[18] Matthew 26:26-29\u00a0 26 \u00a0While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, \"Take and eat; this is my body.\" 27 \u00a0Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, \"Drink from it, all of you. 28 \u00a0This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 \u00a0I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.\" (NIV) <\/p>\n
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[19] John 13:3\u20135 3\u00a0 \u201cJesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. 4\u00a0So He got up from supper, laid aside His outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. 5\u00a0Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples\u2019 feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.\u201d (CSB)<\/p>\n
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[20] Luke 22:44\u00a0 \u201cBeing in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.\u201d (CSB) <\/p>\n
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[21]\u00a0 Matthew 26:48\u201349 48\u00a0\u201cHis betrayer had given them a sign: \u2018The one I kiss, He\u2019s the one; arrest Him.\u201d 49\u00a0So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, \u2018Greetings, Rabbi!\u201d and kissed Him.\u2019\u201d (CSB)<\/p>\n
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[22] Neil Wilson and Linda K. Taylor, Tyndale Handbook of Bible Charts and Maps, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 288.<\/p>\n
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[23] John 18:38b\u00a0 \u201cAfter [Pilate] had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, \u2018I find no grounds for charging Him.\u2019\u201d (CSB)<\/p>\n
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[24] John 19:6\u00a0 \u201cWhen they saw Him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, \u2018Crucify Him! Crucify Him!\u2019 \u2018Take Him yourselves and crucify Him,\u2019 Pilate said. \u2018I find Him not guilty.\u2019\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
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[25] Barry, John D., David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder, eds. 2016. \u201cCalvary.\u201d In The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.<\/p>\n
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[26] Romans 10:9\u201310 9 \u201cIf you confess with your mouth, \u201cJesus is Lord,\u201d and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.\u00a0 (NIV84)<\/p>\n
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Today is Palm Sunday.\u00a0 It is the Sunday about 2,000 years ago that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.\u00a0\u00a0 As He entered the city, the crowd cheered \u201cHosannas\u201d and waved their palm branches. Many people shed their cloaks and placed them in the path of the oncoming donkey, forming … Continue reading