Palm Sunday and Easter are beloved Christian traditions that don’t have a fixed date. Instead, the times for each every year depend on the lunar calendar. Palm Sunday is the official start of Holy Week, followed by commemoration of Christ’s arrest on Maundy Thursday and His crucifixion on Good Friday. Palm Sunday always occurs on the Sunday before Easter, and that day in 2021 is March 28.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s victorious entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, when palm branches were placed in His path. The palm branch was a Jewish symbol of triumph and victory (Revelation 7:9). Entering the city on a donkey symbolized arrival in peace, rather than as a war-waging king arriving on a horse. 

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the (palm) trees and spread them on the road. Matthew 21:8  NLT

The palms represented an immense act of respect and honor. The crowds shouted “Hosanna” as a praise or adoration in recognition of the Messiahship of Jesus. While this was a joyful and special occasion for Jesus’ followers, this event took place towards the end of Jesus’ days on earth before being crucified. 

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Some 450 to 500 years prior to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah had prophesied the event we now call Palm Sunday: 

Rejoice, O people of Zion!  Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.   Zechariah 9:9 NLT 

The prophecy was fulfilled in every detail, and it was a time of rejoicing, as people of Jerusalem welcomed their King.

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However, as the multitudes waved the palm branches and shouted for joy, they missed the true reason for Jesus’ presence. They could neither see nor understand the cross. It is tragic that they saw the Savior, but did not recognize Him for who He was.    

The crowds who cried out “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday were crying out “Crucify Him!” later that week. (Matthew 27:22-23)

Stated in the most simple way, Palm Sunday is an opportunity to reflect upon the final week of Jesus’ life. Jesus did not deny the image that the crowd expected—the fulfillment of the hopes of Israel that He would be their earthly king and would destroy the Roman government. Instead, Jesus humbly entered Jerusalem to give His life on a cross to save mankind from sin and death.  

One day, Jesus will return gloriously as a mighty warrior in battle. 

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.  Revelation 19:11-16 NLT                                                                        

Palm Sunday offers the opportunity to prepare one’s heart for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection.

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