Palm Sunday

 We’re told this large crowd “had come to the feast”I take that to mean they were not locals, but most likely from the Galilee region where they had followed Jesus' ministry- being visitors to Jerusalem, they “camped” on the mountains around the city• and especially the Mount of Olives,◦ staying in tents, a lean-to, or sleeping under the open sky- a rumor shuttled through the crowd – Jesus was nearJesus spent the previous night in Bethany,• a small village on the backside of the Mt. of Olives◦ there had already been speculation, whether he’d show up◦ many people had been looking for him in and around the temple• a murmur of voices floated down the slopes of the Mount of Olives◦ breathless anticipation hung in the air- someone, not yet clued-in, felt it and asked, “What’s going on?”she was told the rumor, “We think Jesus is here!”“Where?”“We don’t know yet, but he’s close”- then there was some commotion at the crown of the mountain• a man threw his cloak on the worn path, perhaps hoping Jesus would step on it when he arrived• that triggered a wave of people carpeting the road◦ some throwing down their cloaks or a palm branch◦ others cut more branches and preparing to wave them like banners