Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week.  It is the commemoration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, found in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-38; and John 12:12-18).

Five days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem having come from Bethany where he had raised Lazarus from the dead.

Having heard of that miracle, as well as Jesus’ other great works and teaching, the people of Jerusalem were anxious to meet him.  When they heard that Jesus was entering the city, they went out to meet him with palm branches (a sign of victory), laying their cloaks upon the ground and shouting “Hosanna (meaning “save us”)! Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord!”

Jesus, however, did not arrive exactly as they had anticipated.  He came humbly, seated on the colt of a donkey.  And with humility he would, by the end of the week, submit to the cross.

Palm Sunday calls us to behold our King even as he is the suffering servant.  The service starts with a procession of palms declaring praise to Jesus our King but goes on to a reading of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus our Savior.  Our cries of “Hosanna!” become cries of “Crucify Him!” reminding us of what is to come.