Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. It begins with a parade, with Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time. He enters riding on a donkey, to the shouts of people saying, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”, and as they shouted they waved palm branches and threw their garments on the roadway, just like they would do to welcome a conquering king. They were chanting familiar words of the Old testament, words that announced the arrival of the king.
It was a parade. Probably noisy and fun. So much so that the Jewish leaders tried to stop it for fear of the authorities.
I remember parades, way back to my childhood. Parades usually were held to celebrate or commemorate an achievement. Childhood parades and parades now draw noisy crowds as they wave to a celebrity, an official, or a victorious soccer team in honor of a victory. Sometimes we have parades to say thank you or to announce a new leader as we anticipate a better tomorrow under a new president or Prime Minister.
Palm Sunday’s parade announced the arrival of new king. The people along the streets were excited about all the miracles and exciting things Jesus had accomplished. He was the miracle worker the life changer. What an amazing king he would be! Hosanna!
That first Palm Sunday parade truly did announce the coming of a king. It was the announcement of a new kingdom order that was just about to be proclaimed. This new kingdom was about to be established as proclaimed and announced by the prophets, ” behold your king, humble riding on a donkey”. During this week this king would humble himself. He would wash dirty feet, he would bear brutal beatings, he would be ridiculed, sold like a piece of discarded property, he would reject the support and assistance of a legion of angels and submit to the curses and taunts of a few brutal soldiers with whips, and while resisting any attempt of self- defense, he prayed for their forgiveness.
As so often is the case, we get caught up in the moment like all these parade goers, and miss what is unfolding before us. The paraders soon changed their cries of support to shouts of condemnation.
This Palm Sunday parade was not celebrating a past achievement, but it was announcing the coming of a new kingdom, a new ruler. It was the beginning of the final battle, by which God’s s rule will be achieved. The kingdom of God comes through humility, surrender, and ultimately through suffering. The end of the week leads to the cross, and then the tomb. Humility, and surrender often appear initially as defeat. But, after Friday, and Saturday, we have Sunday, the day of victory, the day the angels come, and new life and victory are declared.
This Palm Sunday many will have parades, and wave Palm Branches. We will rejoice and sing, our parade and worship are in reflection, knowing that Palm Sunday is just the beginning. Though the crowds forsake him, the Father doesn’t. We know that as the prophets told of the first parade, so the scriptures tell of a coming parade, when the heavens will open , the clouds be rolled back, trumpets will sound, and the king will come with all his people and myriads of angels. He , the humble one will be exalted and his kingdom will never end. This is why I like parades they remind me of the great parade still to come.
Thanks for listening.
Thank you for sharing, Pastor Tom. Palm Sunday indeed marks such a significant and powerful moment in Holy Week. It’s amazing to reflect on the way the people greeted Jesus, honouring Him as the King, even though they didn’t fully understand the depth of His mission. His humble entrance on a donkey, amidst the shouts of ‘Hosanna,’ shows the contrast between worldly expectations and God’s divine plan. This moment really sets the tone for the powerful events that follow in the coming days. I’m grateful for this reminder as we prepare for the rest of Holy Week