This year Palm Sunday is on 13th April. Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. Thursday 11th April is Maundy Thursday, when we remember the Last Supper when Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. On Good Friday we will remember Jesus’ death. On Easter Sunday we will celebrate His resurrection!
The Palm Sunday procession was prophesied 500 years earlier in Zechariah 9:9:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
As Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem a large crowd gathered and laid palm branches and their cloaks across the road, giving Jesus royal treatment. Hundreds of people shouted in celebration.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
John 12:13 (NIV)
The palm branches represented goodness and victory. The people were looking for someone to save them from their oppressors, the Romans. But Jesus came to defeat not the Romans, but death itself.
O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV)
In Biblical times, it was common for kings or important people to arrive by a procession riding on a donkey. The donkey symbolized peace, so those who chose to ride them showed that they came with peaceful intentions. Jesus reminded us that He is the Prince of Peace.
When the people shouted “Hosanna!” they were hailing Christ as King. That word actually means “Save now.” The people wanted an earthly king to save them from the Romans. God had a different way of bringing true salvation to all who would trust in Him.
If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 (NIV)
The Bible says that Jesus wept for Jerusalem. He knew that soon these same people would turn their backs on Him, betray Him, and crucify Him. His heart broke with the reality of how much they needed a Saviour who could save them from eternal damnation, not just from their present earthly troubles.
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it, and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
Luke 19:41-42 (NIV)
Palm Sunday reminds us that the reign of Christ is far greater than any plan we might have for ourselves or our world. People look for someone to fight their battles in the present-day world. Yet God had the ultimate plan of sending His Son to fight the final battle over death. This is the greatness of why we celebrate this week. Because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, we can be set free of death.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”
John 11:25 (BSB)
Adapted from: https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/5-things-about-palm-sunday-that-remind-us-christ-is-king.html
PRAYER: Thank you Heavenly Father, that you sent your Son, Jesus, to die to pay for my sins, to pay the price that I deserved. Thank you that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, I am assured that I will be with You in heaven when You call me home. Forgive me when I try to run my own life, ignoring your plans for me. Help me to turn to You for help always. Help me to honour You as king of my life. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Has Palm Sunday held any significance for you?
What do you want/expect Jesus to do in your life?
What are your thoughts about death and eternity?