Author: UFC Women

As the Passover feast neared, the crowd that had been hanging on Jesus’ every word and step scattered, leaving the 12 disciples very aware that they hadn’t planned ahead. In a city overflowing with holiday visitors, they had failed to secure lodging, and they hadn’t selected a Passover lamb on the 10th day of Nissan in accordance with the law to sacrifice now on the 14th day.

As Jesus descended the Mount of Olives and entered Jerusalem upon the colt’s back, hundreds if not thousands followed Him, echoing King David’s words of long ago, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” But all in the crowd were not merry. Caught up in the chaos were grumbling religious leaders, shouting, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

They are nameless in the four Gospel accounts and easy to miss if you read too fast to get to the crowd’s Palm Sunday “Hosanna!” refrain. But they are there just inside the village of Bethphage east of Jerusalem, quietly helping to fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy.

Today Jaime Sherman introduces us to a new series here on the blog about the minor characters of Easter and how their stories remind us of the importance of our own experiences with Jesus. Join us beginning Monday and running each weekday through Good Friday as we meet the men, women, and children who played quiet roles in Jesus' journey from His entrance into Jerusalem upon a donkey to His crucifixion and burial.