In Church history and Christian tradition certain days are remembered and celebrated. One of such days is Palm Sunday celebrated by many Christians around the world Palm Sunday, often referred to as "Passion Sunday," marks the beginning of Holy Week, it is the week before his death and resurrection which concludes on Easter Sunday.
The celebration of Palm Sunday originated in the Jerusalem Church, around the late fourth century. The early Palm Sunday ceremony consisted of prayers, hymns, and sermons recited by the clergy while the people walked through the city to various holy sites, children carried palm and olive branches. They would return to the church where they would hold evening services. In the simplest of terms, Palm Sunday is an occasion for reflecting on the final week of Jesus' life. It is a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection.
During his earthly ministry Jesus travelled to and from Jerusalem several times; but one trip was more special than any other trips. This was fondly referred to as “The triumphal entry” Why was it so different? What was the significance? What do Palms represent on Palm Sunday? What is the significance of Palm Sunday in modern times? In order to understand its importance and significance let’s read Zech 9:9; Mt 21:1-11.
I. BIBLICAL HISTORY: (Zech 9:9, Mt 21:1-11)
Throughout the biblical history; God’s chosen nation Israel time and again was oppressed by heathen kings and rulers. Each time they cried out for help God raised up either a righteous king, judge or a ruler to redeem his people from their bondage. The prophet Zechariah prophesied that God will not only be the king over Israel but also over the nations of the earth. We read in Zech 9:9, “Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph (victory) O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you, your king He is Just and endowed with salvation, Humble and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” In a way Zechariah was prophesying about the future messiah, King Jesus.
After 500 years this prophesy was fulfilled. During that 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 must have spread like wild fire throughout the region. On the next day; John writes, “the great multitude who had come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him.” (John 12:12-13) Naturally; who wouldn’t want to miss seeing this great miracle worker. The crowds came to Jesus but the Pharisees came to see the crowds. They said to one another, “You see that you are not doing good; look the world has gone after Him.”(John 12:19) Did they really go after him? Or was it the simple fanfare which would soon wane and turn into hatred? Let me introduce several symbols and characters in Matthew 21:1-11: A humble donkey, Palm & Olive branches, the curious crowds, shouting children, disgruntled Pharisees, and the disbelieving disciples.
II. THE DONKEY AND PALM BRANCHES
The sight of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey was significant. Jesus couldn’t have picked any other moment to make this spectacular 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. It was celebration all over.
What caused such jubilation among the crowds when they saw Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey? They were jubilant perhaps because they thought that finally the tyranny of the Roman Empire would be broken; we are free at last. So the celebrations began.
What could we make of Jesus’ entry on a donkey? Why did Jesus use a donkey instead of using a more traditional horse? 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 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 the image of peaceful humility. By riding on a donkey Jesus was making a statement regarding the nature of his kingship and kingdom. In fact he was ushering in another kind of Kingdom where Love and Peace reigns.
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.” The Palm branches not only represented their immediate victory over their enemies but also the ultimate victory over sin and death.
In Rev 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.” Jesus will reign as king forever and ever. The ultimate victory for God and his people is when Satan is completely banned and thrown into the fiery lake forever. We looked at two symbols the donkey and the palm branches now we will focus our attention to the curious crowds, the disgruntled Pharisees and disbelieving disciples.
III. CURIOUS CROWDS: Throughout his ministry wherever Jesus went even under normal circumstances crowds followed him. Jesus was never impressed by crowds following him because he knew their hearts so he wouldn’t entrust himself to anyone easily.
On one occasion Jesus fed over five thousand people with bread and fish. Seeing that the crowds may have thought well if Jesus is around then there will be plenty of food so they wanted to take him by force and make Him king. But Jesus had decided to shut down the “all you can eat buffet.” He was not handing out any more free samples. He said to the crowds, “I tell you the truth; you are looking for me, not because you saw the miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”(John 6:26) Did the crowd really want to follow Jesus or did they want free food? This time was no different the crowds came not because they wanted to follow Him but they were curious to see Jesus because he had performed a sign of rising Lazarus from the dead. In the same way even today some of us only want our physical needs met; or receive a miraculous healing but can never make Him Lord of our lives. I hope you are not one of them?
IV. THE DISGRUNTLED PHARISEES.
While the crowds and every one else was rejoicing with Jesus’ triumphant entry the Pharisees, Sadducees and the teachers of the Law were not a happy bunch. What was their problem? When the crowds saw him as their possible Messiah how did these so called experts of the law miss the point? The gospel writers indicate a few reasons why they denied Jesus as the Messiah: “they feared Jesus because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching” (Mk 1:18), they were indignant with the shouting of “Hosanna to the Son of David” by the children in the temple courts. (Mt 21:15) 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) Above all, their hearts were hardened and they were blind to the truth (John 12:39). This still happens some people are satisfied with mere tradition they fail to see the need for Jesus to come into their lives as Savior. Though they may see all the evidence of Jesus being God yet refuse to accept that fact because of their pride. Let’s look at the disbelieving disciples.
V. THE DISBELIEVING DISCIPLES
During Jesus’ time unbelief was so prevalent among Jews. Let me illustrate, in John 12:37-43, “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence they still would not believe in him.” It is understandable if the crowds had a hard time in believing because they wouldn’t know any better but how about his own disciples, who had lived with him and seen him perform many miracles, did they have a hard time to believe? You bet they did! To an extent one day Jesus rebuked them saying, “O unbelieving generation how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you.” When Christ rode on the donkey into the streets of Jerusalem many had hard time believe that Christ was indeed the messiah. The crowds, including some of his disciples have concluded that he was a prophet while the rest in Jerusalem said “who is this”?
One of the curses of modernity is affluence and pragmatism. Reason is exalted and faith in God is skeptically frowned on or outright ridiculed. Sadly many Christians even after seeing miracles of provision and healings instead of believing in Christ they would say who is this?
Palm Sunday is significant for many reasons. Firstly it 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. Secondly it calls us to examine where our loyalties lie and who we serve. Thirdly it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the journey of Jesus leading up to the Cross.
Which of these characters in the story you mighty identify yourself with? Are you like the crowd who were jubilant and shouted Hosanna, Hosanna but a few days latter shouted Crucify, Crucify? Or are you like the disgruntled and indignant Pharisees who had hardened their hearts and could not accept Jesus as the messiah? Or 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,? Or are you like the disciples though they were with him all the time yet they did not fully believe him until he rose from the dead. (John 2:22)
What a blessed vantage point we have today, we know the rest of the story. How in complete obedience Jesus went to the cross and endured scorn and opposition from sinful men. How he was buried and rose victoriously from the dead on the third day. And yet and yet we too battle with hardened and at times unbelieving hearts. I would encourage you at the beginning of this special Passion Week to follow closely and worship the King with reverence and awe. I hope you will be here on Good Friday at noon time as we reflect together with believers from other churches on our King Jesus’ suffering, agony and death on the Cross. AMEN
