TONIGHT AS WE TURN TO THE SUBJECT OF THE ARMY OF CHRIST IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SUBJECT THAT YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT. But there were many things to discuss as we approach this Resurrection period each year, and many times there is much that is left out. One of the things that you have been told to do is to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. So all of the record and all of the background and all of the panorama of the things which took place around the life of Christ and the events of the scripture are very vital and important to you.
As we survey this background of history of this day called Palm Sunday, it is given this title because the people had gathered outside of the gates of Jerusalem and along its streets to strew palm branches in front of Christ as He entered the city. And you remember that they cried “Hosannah in the Highest to the son of David. Who is He that cometh in the name of the LORD?” And we have that cry repeated and the story told of the significance of that hour. Of course the fact in that time was that a great multitude of people in Palestine hung around the gate of the city and they were anticipating that He would come this way.
They knew that He was going to enter into this city by this gate, and they were waiting to strew before HIM these garlands and palm branches. And to cry, “Crown HIM King, and hail Jesus.” There was a reason for this, because it had been planned for sometime. Because this was a most important thing in the hearts and minds that had planned it. If one had gone back over the events in Palestine since the hour of the birth of Christ, they would find that the story had spread and grown concerning the things which had taken place at the hour of His birth. The enunciation out of the heavens, the signs in the sky, the coming of the wise men, the preservation of John the Baptist by the fourth wise man