Palm Sunday

​“Palm Sunday,” is the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem one week prior to his crucifixion and death. In case some of you are wondering why this is called “Palm Sunday,” it is because according to the Gospel of John the crowds in Jerusalem came out to greet Jesus carrying palm branches, which they either waved or strewed in his path. The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in Jewish tradition and is treated in other parts of the Bible as such (Leviticus 23:40 and Revelation 7:9 NIV). Because of this, the scene of the crowd greeting Jesus by waving palms and carpeting his path looked like a victory! What does this mean?

The meaning of what takes place is conveyed through both the Scripture shouted by the crowd at the time and the Scripture that occurred to the disciples later. The crowd shouted, "Help!" and "Save!" and Jesus has come precisely to help and save them, though it will not be through the political liberation the crowd expects. The crowd chants a line from a Psalm of Ascent: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:26 NIV). This line applies to Jesus in a way it never had to anyone else before. Jesus is the one who makes known the Father and has come in the Father's name (John 5:43 NIV), and he desires that the Father's name be made known (John 17:6 NIV). So, for him it is exceptionally true that he comes in the name of the Lord. This expression is one way of summarizing his whole mission. Read Luke 19:28-38 NIV.

Make Every Day Count!

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