THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PALM SUNDAY
Matthew 21 : 1-9; Mark 11-12; Luke 19-20 and John 12
By Rev. W.L. Kabs-Kanu
It was the day our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST triumphantly entered Jerusalem. It was to be the last Sunday before his crucifixion on the Cross of Calvary. It signifies what Christians have come to call the beginning of the HOLY WEEK and the last week of the Lent season.
Matthew 21: 4 . ‘This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ *The prophecy is cited from Zechariah 9:9 and Isaiah 62:11.
Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, and his his supporters spread palm branches at his feet and called him “Hosanna” or “savior.” It is both a demonstration, so to speak, against the imperial control over the city of peace by the Romans and Roman imperial control of the Temple of God.
Jesus Christ riding on a donkey signified humility, which is one of the most important virtues required of his followers. Colossians 3:12 . “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” Ephesians 4 : 2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Jesus Christ lived the life he preached . He was a personification of humility. The donkey is a gentle animal and it also signified the gentle spirit that exemplifies Jesus Christ. Jesus would have used symbols of pomp and pageantry to enter Jerusalem but he chose to enter in a very humble fashion, riding a donkey.
The Palm branches were symbols of victory and triumph . According to 2 Kings 9:13, such high honor only befits a king.
13They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!” (NIV). The Palm branches were also symbolic of the final victory He would soon fulfill over death.
Ironically, Jesus Christ is going to die at the end of the week, but his death would be victory and triumph for his followers and those who would believe in him. For many months, Jesus had gone through cities preaching about the kingdom of God and healing the sick and infirm . The time was coming for him to claim his title as the Messiah.
Despite entering Jerusalem in humility and gentleness, Jesus went to the temple and demonstrated that though we are required to be humble and gentle, we cannot sit down supinely and see the work of God being destroyed . We have to take a strong hand to preserve the honor and integrity of the things of God.
Jesus found out that the temple had been turned into a market place. In the temple courts, he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, while others seated at tables exchanging money. He became so incensed, he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables . John 2 : 14-16. And he said unto them, “ It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” ( Mathew 21: 13 ). Jesus demonstrated authority and an uncompromising stance against the misuse of the house of God.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as King. It was a demonstration of the kingness as I would put it, of Jesus Christ . By shouting HOSANNA. the people were hailing Jesus Christ as king. The word means SAVE NOW. The king of kings , the saviour of mankind was being hailed.
This was foretold hundreds of years before it happened : “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zech. 9:9
Palm Sunday demonstrates the message of what Christians will celebrate this week. Before the week ended, Jesus Christ was to make the supreme sacrifice where he gave his life to redeem mankind from sin and eternal death. .
‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,'”John 11:25
