The Story and the Lesson of Palm Sunday
The significance of Palm Sunday is clear because it is one of the events of Jesus’ life that was recorded in all four of the Gospels. (Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 12)
Mark 11:7-11
7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts…
It is notable that Jesus was riding a colt (of a donkey) as it is an animal of peace, a horse would have been an animal of war. This has a two-fold reason for its significance. Jesus was the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); and, because it fulfills a prophecy in Zechariah.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.
That is (very briefly) the story of Palm Sunday.
The lesson is not in his triumphant entry, but in the actions of the people.
At Jesus’ entry the people receive him as a great prophet, and a man of significance.
MATTHEW 21
8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
This is not the first time this had happened, it was a custom reserved for people deserved the highest honor. This honor was given to Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, when he was anointed as King.
2 Kings 9:13
13 They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Later in the week, Jesus was arrested an eventually crucified. One of the events of “Holy Week” is when Pilate offered to the people that he would release a prisoner and he asked them who they wanted to be released.
MATTHEW 27
21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
So, what changed?
Why did the people go from putting their cloaks and palm branched on the road ahead of Christ to show him the highest honor they could to asking for the release of a political prisoner and shouting for the death of Jesus?
It was not Christ that changed.
Jesus had a tumultuous week in Jerusalem, think of the “Cleansing of the Temple” when Jesus threw out the money changers and vendors. There were also some pointed interactions with the Pharisees that week.
The Chief priests had turned the people against Christ, to the point that the belief was totally changed.
As believers we are taught to be unchanging and steadfast.
2 TIMOTHY 4
2 Preach the word (SPEAK THE TRUTH); be instant (TAKE YOUR POSITION) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Some of the time it is easy to be a believer, because the current it with you. Like the people on Palm Sunday, they were all shouting Hosannah.
Some of the time it is hard to be a believer, you feel like you are swimming upstream and you are the only one that believes.
Take your position. Speak the truth, in season, out of season.
The lesson is that circumstances will, if we let them, change our position.
