The day we call Palm Sunday is historically called the Day of Lambs. The shepherds would herd huge flocks of Passover Lambs into Jerusalem, signaling the start of Passover.
Bethlehem was known for its spotless, almost perfect lambs. They were raised yearly and prepared for the all-important Passover celebration, remembering the salvation of Israel from its Egyptian slavery. The significance of the best lambs coming from Bethlehem and Jesus being born there is huge.
If you remember your history, the lamb needed to be as near to spotless as possible to make the best sacrifice. God instructed the Israelites to choose an unblemished, near-perfect lamb to kill and then apply its blood to the doorposts before the angel of death passed over the land while they were in Egypt. That night, the firstborn of every creature was killed unless the death angel found blood on the doorpost of the home. Fast forward 1,500 years to the day Jesus, the spotless lamb of God, entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey to be offered as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin once and for all time.
What incredible imagery God used for His children: the Passover week remembrance, the spotless lamb of God, and the one John the Baptist announced as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Look out, world, Easter is coming, and with it, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God!
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