The Life and the Ministry of Jesus (PART III)

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF JESUS (PALM SUNDAY)


Certain days in history go down memory lane as victory days. For example, America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. August 15th 1947 is celebrated as India's Independence Day to commemorate its independence from British rule. Though not that dramatic Bostonian Base Ball fans will fondly remember their favorite team winning the World Series in 2004 after a drought of 86 years. In the above mentioned events the situation and the context may be different but one thing they have in common that is Victory.

In Church history and the Christian tradition also certain days are remembered and celebrated. One of such days is Palm Sunday; the day Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem on his way to defeat Satan the archenemy of mankind. Palm Sunday ushers the church into the Passion Week where we reflect on the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Let’s look at different characters and aspects surrounding Palm Sunday.

I. Cultural and Historical Context (Mt 21:1-11, Mk 11:1-11, Lk 19:29-38, Jn 12:12-15)

In the final stages of His ministry Jesus once again made his intentions of going to Jerusalem clear to his disciples. All the four gospel writers recorded this journey with varying details. When we look into these four narratives we get the full picture. During Jesus’ time the Roman Empire was ruling the world. The Jews were subjects of the Roman Empire. They were anxiously looking for a messiah to come and over throw the Roman power and establish his kingdom. While they waited for the messiah they made frequent visits to the temple in Jerusalem especially during the appointed festivals.

This was the Passover time; Jews from all over the world came to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. Jesus along with his disciples also went to Jerusalem. On his way, Jesus performed many miracles including the outstanding miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. This news began to spread like wild fire throughout the region much to the annoyance of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law.

II. Cheering crowds and shouting children

Throughout his ministry wherever Jesus went even under normal circumstances crowds followed him. This time was no different. Matthew records, “A very large crowd” John notes, “A great crowd” came to Jerusalem wanting to see Jesus and also Lazarus who was raised from the dead six days prior to the Passover feast. Jesus gave specific instructions to his disciples to untie and bring a donkey along with its young colt. He said I need them.

This command must have cheered the crowds of his disciples who had been waiting for the messiah. When they saw the donkey and the colt they have erupted with ecstasy just like in Red Sox’s victory parade in 2008, when the crowd spotted the “the Duck tour buses carrying their favorite base ball players. What caused such jubilation among the crowds of disciples?
It was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion, shout, daughter of Jerusalem, See your king comes to you righteous and having salvation gentle and riding on a donkey on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”(Zec 9:9)

III. The donkey, clothes and palm branches

The sight of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey was significant. Jesus had picked the right moment to make his entry. The city of Jerusalem was bustling with crowds because of the Passover feast. As Jesus entered through the gates, the crowds went out of their way, some took off their cloaks (outer garments), and some cut Palm branches from the trees and laid them on the road. The young, the old and little children began to shout joyfully, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the Highest” What does Hosanna mean? It is a Hebrew expression meaning “Help or Save” which became an exclamation of praise. The crowds were jubilant with the thought that finally the tyranny of the Roman Empire would be broken; and Jesus was going to over power the mighty Romans and establish His Kingdom on earth and they will get to have a part in it.

What could we make of Jesus’ entry on a donkey? What do the clothes and the Palm branches symbolize? Scholars have noted three significant points regarding the donkey:
A) The donkey was a traditional mount for kings, rulers and prophets in the ancient Near East; Jesus was therefore making an implicit claim to be the king of his people.
B) The act of riding into Jerusalem on a donkey near the time of the Passover celebration invoked a central image of Messianic expectation. The image of a King on a Donkey approaching Jerusalem was consistently understood to signify the arrival of the messianic King.
C) In the Old Testament horses were associated with war and human pride, the donkey may have presented an image of peaceful humility. Jesus in this interpretation, was making a statement regarding the nature of his kingship and kingdom infact he was ushering in another kind of Kingdom where Love and peace reigns.

What is the historical precedence to the act of laying down of clothes? When Jehu was anointed as King over Israel, people hurriedly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps, and then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is King” (2 Kings 9:17). In one way when people took of their cloaks and spread them on the road without realizing they were proclaiming, “Jesus is King.” That sort of symbolic acknowledgement of the Kingship of Jesus irked the pundits.

What is the significance of the Palm Branches? The branches of the date palm appear in the symbolism of Greek, Roman and Jewish cultures[1] Palm branches were associated with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:40) Palms were a longstanding sign of victory in the Greek world. John 12:13, records the crowds waved palm branches and shouted “O Lord Save us” (Hebrew Hosanna) Palm branches vividly depicted God’s victory and the deliverance of his people.
In Revelation 7:9 we read “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hand. And they cried out in a loud voice “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” This is the ultimate victory for God and his people.

IV. The indignant Pharisees and the teachers of the Law

While the crowds and every one else were rejoicing with this triumphant entry of Jesus, one group of people was not very happy. They were the Pharisees, Sadducees and the teachers of the Law. What was their problem? When every one else can clearly see that Jesus was the prophesied messiah what hindered these experts from acknowledging that fact? Where did they miss the point? The gospel writers indicate a few reasons why they denied Jesus as the messiah: 1. “They feared Jesus because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching” (Mk 1:18), 2. They were indignant with the shouting of “Hosanna to the Son of David” by the children in the temple courts. (Mt 21:15). 3. They were afraid that every one will believe in Jesus and the Romans will come and take away the temple and the nation. (John 11:47). 4.Above all, they had hardened their hearts and were blind to the truth (John 12:39)

V. Jesus and Jerusalem

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is a moment. This day together with the raising of Lazarus are signs pointing beyond themselves to the mighty deeds and events which consummate Christ's earthly ministry. The time of fulfillment was at hand. Christ's raising of Lazarus points to the destruction of death and the joy of resurrection which will be accessible to all through His own death and resurrection. His entrance into Jerusalem is a fulfillment of the messianic prophecies about the king who will enter his holy city to establish a final kingdom. That was all good but as Jesus approached Jerusalem, and when he saw the city he didn’t have the same joy like many of his disciples and the crowds instead he wept over Jerusalem. What made Jesus weep? What does that mean for us today? Let’s look at what John has to say. “If you even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will…dash you to the ground…because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19:41)

You might be saying what does Jesus weeping over Jerusalem have to do with me? Jesus wept over a sinful city that rejected God and continued to live away from God. So how should we as God’s children feel about our city and the vast numbers of those who do not acknowledge Jesus as the Christ? Jesus was weeping about where people were. The city of Jerusalem did not recognize the time of God’s visitation, how about us? Could we fail to recognize the working of God in our life?

Palm Sunday points us towards the Servant King who said “I came to serve not to be served and offer my life as ransom for many.” Mk10: 45. It also calls us to take a deep look at where our loyalties lie. Which of the characters can you identify with? Are you like the crowd who were jubilant and n shouted Hosanna, Hosanna and a few days latter shouted Crucify, Crucify? We too can come to church shout Hosanna and Praise the Lord yet crucify the Lord again and again through our sinful lifestyle. Are you like the disgruntled and indignant Pharisees and Sadducees who had seen many miracles yet refused to believe and accept Jesus as the messiah? Are you like the city (people) of Jerusalem who outwardly welcomed Jesus but inwardly rejected him, and did not recognize the visitation of the Lord? Which one of these are you? May the Lord help us on this Palm Sunday to lay aside our pride and arrogance and excel in the service of our Servant King.

[1] Archaeological Study Bible (NIV) Page 2056