Christian community in Tamenglong widely celebrated ‘Palm Sunday’ with gaiety and joy to commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem.
Sunday school students of different churches in Tamenglong took out large procession along Tamenglong bazaar road with banners and shouting slogans with branches of leaves on their hand.
According to the Gospel Matthew, the crowd that accompanied Jesus that day shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ (Chapter 21:9).
“A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!, ‘Hosanna in the highest!’ When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”…”
Those from whose lips ‘Hosanna’ rose that day seem to have looked on Jesus as God’s anointed one from the house of David of whom the prophets had spoken and through whom they hoped that all their messianic expectations would be fulfilled.
The Christian dominant districts like Tamenglong witnessed great joy as the parents along with their children took out big processions and chanted prayers. Church services were also held after the procession in their respective churches.
Unlike previous years, Zeliangrong Baptist Church members wore like Jews clothes and took a procession from Haipou Jadonang Park and culminated at church. A formal worship service was conducted at respective churches in Tamenglong.
Speaking to the Imphal Free Press Zeliangrong Baptist Church Associate Pastor (Mission) Dishinglung Panmei said that Palm Sunday is being observed to commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem.
Jesus Christ came in humble and meek and he wanted everyone to be humble, he said.
A Gospel preacher said that there are five things one should know about this significant biblical event. He said Jesus brought peace and salvation. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all recount the Palm Sunday story that took place shortly before Jesus was arrested, crucified on the cross and eventually rose from the dead.
Secondly, the Holy Day gets its name from scripture. In John 12:13, it is written: “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Jesus fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy. The minor prophet Zechariah foretold it hundreds of years earlier. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey,” according to Zechariah 9:9.
Next Jesus’ arrival on a donkey is very significant. This animal appears multiple times in the Bible. “There have been other donkeys with important roles mentioned in scripture,” “We remember Balaam’s donkey that spoke and warned Balaam of danger. Of course, we know that it was God speaking through the donkey. We know about the donkey that carried Mary and the unborn Christ to Bethlehem, and later the donkey once again carried the family to Egypt to escape King Herod.”
Lastly, Jesus was not the first to ride through the crowds in parade fashion. An Old Testament story tells of a king triumphantly entering a town.
After celebrating ‘Palm Sunday’, Christian entered ‘Passion Week’ from Monday where Jesus fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy.
