What Can Palm Sunday Teach us Today?

 

What can Palm Sunday teach us today?

by Barbara Latta

In biblical culture, palm branches signified a victorious leader or redeemer. Palm branches were embossed on coins and used as rewards to the victors in games. By waving palms when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people cheered because they anticipated political freedom.

One week later they had all turned on Him. He didn’t do what they expected. He stood by and let the religious leaders take Him. He didn’t fight back when the Romans arrested Him.

They were disappointed again. They said He did miracles but couldn’t save Himself.

But He didn’t come to save Himself from the cross. He came to save them and us because He went to the cross.

What can Palm Sunday teach us today?

• We can see how following the herd mentality can lead to deception. The crowd’s praise transitioned into public denial. How do we guard against letting the voice of unbelievers turn us away from the truth? Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossian 2:8).
• They expected the wrong thing—political rule. We can expect the wrong thing from God when we see Him as angry and condemning us for sin. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• When the crowd didn’t get what they wanted, they turned on Him. When we don’t get what we want, do we turn against God? He didn’t promise an easy life, but He did promise a victorious one. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor (John 12: 25-26).

As He entered the gates of the Holy City, I don’t think Jesus was waving to the crowd like a contestant on the stage. He wept over Jerusalem because He knew she would reject Him. He knew why they were praising Him. It wasn’t because their sins would be taken away forever.

It was because they wanted Him to sit on a throne and break Roman bondage. Everyone had the defeat of Rome on their minds. Not their need for spiritual cleansing. They looked for outward change, not inward transformation. This would have broken His heart.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off, and He will speak peace to the nations. (Zechariah 9:9-10).

The people of Jerusalem did not comprehend that the prophecies about the Messiah spoke of two appearances. He came the first time as the Savior and brought spiritual peace between God and man. 

But the last part of the prophecy in Zechariah spoke of His return, not on a donkey, but on a white horse as the conquering Judge who will rule with a rod of iron and bring political peace to all nations (Revelation 19:11-15).

My prayer is that what I have learned in six decades of living will overflow toward those who have questions and doubt. That I will be strong enough to encourage young and old alike to be strong in the Lord.

I pray we will all unashamedly wave our palm branches of praise to the Lord, not only when the rest of the crowd praises Him, but when the opposition wants to persecute. The experiences and consequences of the past have shown me compromise is not worth it.

May “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” remain the prayer of mature women who walk in grace and thrive in hope—for us, our children, and our grandchildren.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

What can PalmSunday teach us today?

Jesus didn’t come to save Himself from the cross.  He came to save us because He went to the cross.