On Saturday, which was the Jewish sabbath, Jesus remained quietly in Bethany. Yet the next day we see the first time that Sunday is brought into prominence.

On the first day of the week:

1. Jesus is proclaimed King.
2. Jesus rises from the dead.
3. Jesus makes His appearance after rising from the dead.
4. Jesus  pours out the Holy Spirit with great power on His church (“the promise of the Father”, Acts 1:4; 2:33).

From the very day Jesus made His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem onward, the first day of the week, Sunday, did and will continue to hold a place of great prominence.

Yet it is not just the prominence of Sunday, the first day of the week , that takes place on Palm Sunday. The events of this day are a fulfillment of a wonderful passage in Zechariah chapter 9. Verse 9 of that chapter is perhaps the most familiar:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. –Zec 9:9 (ESV)

Yet let us not forget the rest of that chapter in Zechariah:

Since our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as King of Zion, it should also be noted that His kingdom, never to be earthly but a spiritual one, not of this world (Jn. 18:36), will never be manifest nor expanded by military use of weapons such as the crowds of Matthew 21 expected. No; the worldly symbols of power, the chariot and the war horse, are not needed. His kingdom will consists of those who responded to the preaching of His Gospel throughout every tribe, nation and tongue. His very act of riding into Jerusalem on an animal used for peace alone told the crowds that their idea of who Messiah would be was very wrong!

Because of the blood of the covenant God had made, and by the shed blood of Jesus, unregenerate men, held in bondage and captivity to sin as in a waterless pit where there is no comfort to be found – yet with the proclamation of the Gospel of King Jesus, men are truly set free indeed! V.11 of Zechariah 9 is a wonderful Gospel text preacher!

Regenerate men and women and children in Christ, though saved eternally, yet remain prisoners in this life in sinful flesh, BUT we are prisoners with a hope and a Surety! Zechariah 9:12 bids us ‘return to your stronghold’, who is Christ our Lord! Reconciliation! Pure Gospel here!

The Apostles, who were Jews, were used as God’s bow, drawn and firing the Gospel towards the hearts of sinful men even in gentile nations. God was the Protector of the Apostles and the preachers of those early days, for their success and for the glory of His Name and the exaltation, honor and glory of Messiah Jesus! King of kings, and Lord of lords whose reign began with His resurrection and whose dominion knows no boundaries!

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. – Jude 1:24, 25