What is Palm Sunday?

Response

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, one week prior to His resurrection (Matthew 21:1-11). As Jesus approached the holy city, He was nearing the culmination of a long journey towards Golgotha. His purpose was to save the lost “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”, (Luke 19:10), and this was the appointed time and place to accomplish that salvation. Palm Sunday marked the beginning of what is commonly referred to as “Passion Week,” the final seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It signified the commencement of the concluding phase of Jesus’ mission on earth.

Palm Sunday commenced with Jesus and His disciples journeying over the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two disciples ahead to the village of Bethphage to procure a mode of transportation. They found the unridden colt of a donkey, just as Jesus had foretold (Luke 19:29-30). When they untied the colt, the owners inquired about it. The disciples replied with the message Jesus had given them: “The Lord needs it” (Luke 19:31-34). Surprisingly, the owners accepted this response and allowed the disciples to proceed. “They brought [the donkey] to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on it” “And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.”, (Luke 19:35).

As Jesus journeyed towards Jerusalem, a large crowd gathered around Him. This assembly recognized Jesus as the Messiah; however, they were unaware that it was not yet time to establish the kingdom—despite Jesus attempting to convey this to them (Luke 19:11-12). The actions of the crowd along the road led to the term “Palm Sunday”: “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road” (Matthew 21:8). By laying their cloaks on the road, the people were treating Jesus like royalty—similar to the honor bestowed upon King Jehu during his coronation (2 Kings 9:13). John notes that the branches they cut were from palm trees (John 12:13).

On that initial Palm Sunday, the people also praised Jesus verbally: “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ / ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ / ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:9).

In their praise of Jesus, the Jewish crowds were quoting Psalm 118:25–26, an acknowledged prophecy of the Christ. The allusion to a Messianic psalm drew resentment from the religious leaders present: “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’” «And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. », (Luke 19:39). However, Jesus saw no need to rebuke those who told the truth. He replied, “I tell you . . . if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” «And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. », (Luke 19:40).

Some 450 to 500 years prior to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah had prophesied the event we now call Palm Sunday: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! / Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! / See, your king comes to you, / righteous and victorious, / lowly and riding on a donkey, / on a colt, the foal of a donkey” «Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. », (Zechariah 9:9). The prophecy was fulfilled in every particular, and it was indeed a time of rejoicing, as Jerusalem welcomed their King. Unfortunately, the celebration was not to last. The crowds looked for a Messiah who would rescue them politically and free them nationally, but Jesus had come to save them spiritually. First things first, and mankind’s primary need is spiritual, not political, cultural, or national salvation.

Even as the coatless multitudes waved the palm branches and shouted for joy, they missed the true reason for JJesus’ presence. They could neither see nor understand the cross. That’s why, “as [Jesus] 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. The days will come upon you when your enemies . . . will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you” (Luke 19:41-47). It is a tragic thing to see the Savior but not recognize Him for who He is. The crowds who were crying out “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday were crying out “Crucify Him!” later that week (Matthew 27:22-23).

There is coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). The worship will be real then. Also, John records a scene in heaven that features the eternal celebration of the risen Lord: “There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” «After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; », (Revelation 7:9, emphasis added). These palm-bearing saints will shout, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (verse 10), and who can measure the sum of their joy?

Palm Sunday Calendar:

2024 — March 24

2025 — April 13