On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. That day marked the beginning of his last week on earth. On that special Sunday we remember that Jesus was willing to go to Jerusalem even though he knew he would suffer to death there. Why did he do it? Out of love for each one of us, “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:17-28).
The biblical account is in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44 and John 12:12-19. It tells us that when Jesus and his disciples were approaching Jerusalem, Jesus asked two of his disciples to go to a village to find a donkey tied and a colt that was with her. He gave them clear instructions so that they could find the animals without problems. When the disciples returned with the animals, they placed their cloaks over the colt and Jesus sat on it.
Jesus and his disciples were not alone on the road to Jerusalem. They were among a crowd of people who came to celebrate the Passover there. The crowd saw Jesus sitting on the colt and on the cloaks of his disciples. Many placed their cloaks and tree branches on the road for Jesus to pass by. This had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets when speaking about the Messiah (Isaiah 62:11, Psalm 118:25-26 and Zechariah 9:9).
There were many people spreading their cloaks on the road; others cut branches from the trees and scattered them on the road.
(Matthew 21:8)
Why did the multitude place their cloaks and palm trees on the road? The people of Israel awaited the Messiah as a political liberator, not as a spiritual liberator. They longed to be free from the oppression of Rome. Seeing Jesus on the colt, they thought of him as the great deliverer they expected. Jesus had recently performed the miracle of raising Lazarus (John 11), and it may be that the people thought that the time had come for Jesus to reign in power.
Suddenly, the crowd that was near Jesus and his disciples began to shout Hosanna! (Hail!) and praise Jesus. From all sides they began to give shouts of praise and exaltation to Jesus!
They hailed him as a king! We can also take advantage of Palm Sunday to remember that Jesus is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, our God and Savior. There is no one else in the world who has been willing to give his life to save us from eternal death: only Jesus! Let us praise him with all our hearts this day and every day of our lives!
Let’s start Holy Week by remembering God’s great love for each one of us. Let us not allow the worries of the present time to rob us of the peace that comes from the Lord and the certainty that we are saved thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Let us worship God in the midst of present circumstances! He deserves all our worship today and for all eternity.
After this I looked, and there appeared a multitude taken from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues; it was so big that no one could count it. They were standing before the throne and the Lamb, dressed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands. They cried out with a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!”
(Revelation 7:9-10)