CHRISTIANS JOIN IN PALM SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

A donkey-riding Jewish carpenter welcomed into a city 2,000 years ago by people who had strewn palm leaves on the road may not seem an event worthy of commemoration.

But to the world's 1.5 billion Christians, Palm Sunday begins a week-long celebration of Jesus Christ's persecution, crucifixion and resurrection as prophesied in the Old Testament.

The events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ begin with the observance of Palm Sunday, which was marked in churches here and around the world Sunday.

Palm Sunday commemorates Christ's arrival in Jerusalem when he was welcomed by people that had placed palm leaves on the road leading into the city to minimize dust. They welcomed Christ and called him Messiah, which means anointed one or deliverer of the Jews.

"But the pendulum swung from hero status to zero status," said the Rev. David Brothers, pastor of the First Assembly of God, 750 Mount Auburn Road. "One day he was their hero and the next, the mob had instigated a trial and his crucifixion."

Brothers said although the people first looked to Christ as their Messiah, they quickly turned on him.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the week that was prophesied in the Old Testament, said the Rev. Jeff Sippy, pastor of the Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Road. "Just about each day from the time when Christ arrived was Old Testament prophesy fulfilled."

Brothers and Sippy said not only does Palm Sunday commemorate Christ's arrival into the city, but the observance is important because Biblical prophesy was fulfilled with Christ's arrival in Jerusalem and his subsequent crucifixion and resurrection.

"The son of God had come to serve not to be a dictator," Brothers said, "and there was a lack of perception on that point by the people as well as the disciples. That's why they turned on him."

Sippy said the church recognizes that the humiliation and exaltation prophesied for the Messiah in Zechariah 9 began to be fulfilled with Christ's arrival into Jerusalem.

"Most people don't realize the significance of the event," Sippy said, "and there really could be worship services every day of this week to commemorate the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection."

Christ's crucifixion and resurrection are important to Christians not only because they fulfilled Old Testament prophesy, but also because his resurrection signals followers to a life after death.

"So that we can still walk in faith and hope in those bad times," Brothers said.