Inspiration & Worship

On April 10, Christians worldwide will celebrate Palm Sunday. What is it?

It’s the Sunday before Easter and it commemorates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, as recorded in Mark 11:1–11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19. It marks the start of Holy Week, the days and events immediatly before his death and resurrection.

When Jesus came to Jerusalem, crowds greeted him enthusiastically. They waved palm fronds as he entered the city on a donkey, as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, NIV: 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.

Many people had heard of the great miracles done by Jesus and dared to believe he was the long-awaited redeemer of Israel. Little did they know he would soon emerge not only as savior to Jews, but also as savior to everyone who chooses to believe in him.

Why didn’t they know he would offer eternal life to all people? Because Jesus didn’t reveal the full plan during his ministry, not wanting Satan to stop the dark events that had to unfold during Holy Week. Paul explains in I Corinthians 2:8:

None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Powerful government and religious rulers, threatened by Jesus’ popularity, chose to humiliate, torture and execute him. Jesus endured their cruelty, even though he had the power to stop them. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (Matt. 26:53-54 NIV)

The events of Holy Week were God’s plan and Jesus chose to obey God.

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

Palm Sunday celebrates the beginning of the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth – and the start of a season that culminates 50 days after Easter on Pentecost, the day God sent the gift of holy spirit to mankind. ❚