Holy Week: Palm Sunday

As Christians, we celebrate Palm Sunday on the first Sunday of Holy Week. Palm Sunday carries a deep significance in our Christian faith. This day marks Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, an event that is recorded in all four Gospels. As Jesus entered the city, he was welcomed by a great crowd spreading palm branches and cloaks on the road, shouting praises.

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Palm Sunday sets the stage for Holy Week, eventually leading us to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

It is a day that gave the Jewish people hope for their promised messianic deliverer. It is a day of great celebration and hopeful expectations. However, Palm Sunday is also bittersweet in its foreshadowing Jesus’ impending sacrifice on the cross.

Palm branches are rich in symbolism rooted in biblical and cultural contexts of the time. In Jewish and Roman-Greco culture palm branches were significant symbols of victory, triumph, and peace.

For Christians today, palm branches represent both the victory of Christ over sin and death through His resurrection, and the peace He offers to all believers.

The celebration of Palm Sunday invites us to reflect on Jesus as the King who conquers not by force, but through humility and love. He doesn’t bring victory or peace through military might. He conquers death through love and sacrifice. It is a day that should encourage us to prepare our hearts for the solemn journey ahead, as we commemorate Holy Week and lead up to the joy of Easter morning.

When the crowd shouted “Hosanna” during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, it had significant theological and cultural implications. The word “Hosanna” comes from a Hebrew expression meaning “Save us, we pray” or “Please save us now.” It is a direct recognition that Jesus was the long-awaited, promised Messiah that had come to deliver His people. While the people didn’t quite fully comprehend how Jesus would deliver them, they anticipated and expected that He would.

The shouts of “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday captures both the plea for and the acknowledgment of Jesus’ role as their Savior and King, and serves as an indication of the salvation Jesus would accomplish through His death and resurrection.

Over time, Hosanna has evolved into a declaration of praise and adoration.

What do we—modern day Christians—take away from Palm Sunday?

I believe that Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday offers us several lessons that are profound and practical for living out our faith in the 21st century.

Understanding True Kingship: Jesus’ choice to enter Jerusalem humbly on a donkey instead of a warhorse demonstrates the nature of His eternal kingdom. Heaven is a place of peace, humility, and service rather than force and dominance. These are the things that matter to God. Does this challenge your expectations of leadership and authority?
Embracing Humility: Through His example, Jesus taught us that true greatness comes from humility, not arrogance. How does this influence how we are called to live?
Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday is a fulfillment of prophecy, demonstrating God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. How might this encourage you to trust in God’s timing and plans, even when you do not fully understand them?
The Importance of Worship: When the crowd erupted with shouts of “Hosanna” they showed us what spontaneous praise and worship is in real time. Do you worship Jesus with a sincere heart, recognizing Him as Lord and Savior?
Knowing and Willing Sacrifice: Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing it would lead to His suffering and death. How might this act of sacrificial love encourage us to take up our own cross and follow Him?

Palm Sunday is an invitation for us to embrace a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, reflect His humility, replicate His service, and keep an unwavering commitment to God’s purposes.

Palm Sunday begs the question: Who am I following? I hope your answer is JESUS!