Palm Sunday...

Yesterday I went to church at Christ Church in Russell...
Or to give it it's Maori name -
Te Whare Karakia o Kororareka.
It is New Zealand's oldest existing church and possibly the oldest building still being used for its original purpose.

 It was Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of Holy Week, the last week of Lent and for Christians it is when we remember the last week of Jesus' life - when He made the journey to Jerusalem on a donkey - which symbolises peace - to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Passover.
People welcomed Jesus by waving and throwing palm branches in the path of the donkey.
They hoped Jesus was the Messiah/Saviour the Old Testament of the Bible talks about and promises.
Some people today believe He was/is, others are still waiting.

The service reflected that Palm Sunday is both a happy day and a sad day because Jesus died less than a week after his arrival in Jerusalem.

I've been reflecting...
What courage to knowingly ride to your death...
And a death of such cruelty.