Palm Sunday should be one of the more important days in our calendars every year. This day, celebrated the Sunday before Easter Sunday, reminds us of the time when Christ was about to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, and be resurrected three days later.
What is Palm Sunday and why should it be important to us? Let's talk about that.
What is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday, also known as "Passion Sunday," marks the week that leads to Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection. It is called "Palm Sunday" because of what happened during this time in history.
Matthew 21:1-11 tells us that Christ has His triumphal entry to Jerusalem on this day:
"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
"Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!"
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?"
So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.""
You might notice that palms aren't specifically mentioned anywhere in the passage. Well, John 12:13 tells us that the "branches from the trees" that were cut at the time are actually palm branches:
"...took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
"Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!""
This kind of welcome signifies a few things:
1) That they all knew Christ as the Messiah (see Psalm 118:25-26)
2) That they recognized that Christ is King (see 2 Kings 9:13)
3) They all honored Him as both King and Messiah (see Zechariah 9:9)
Now why should it be important to us today?
Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem signaled the start of the last week of His earthly ministry. In a few days' time He would be betrayed, scourged, mocked, and nailed to the cross to die -- only to rise again on the third day after His death.
This week is when we remember that our sinless Savior took the punishment that we should be receiving. This is the week when we remember that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This is the week when we are reminded that we can't save ourselves, but Christ saved us.
Why is Palm Sunday important? It's because our King and Savior came to save us through His sacrificial death and resurrection. Palm Sunday reminds us of that.
