What is Palm Sunday?— Holy Week Begins
Jesus is the true King
Palm Sunday Explained
Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar. It is a day when Christians all around the world commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, just a few days before his crucifixion.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey while the people of the city spread palm branches on the road, shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9). This was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which says,
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The use of palm branches in this event was significant because they were a symbol of victory and triumph. The people of Jerusalem were expecting Jesus to be their political savior, to overthrow the oppressive Roman government and establish a new kingdom. However, Jesus had a different plan. He came to save humanity from their sins by sacrificing himself on the cross, as he stated in John 12:27,
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.”
Jesus is the True King
Palm Sunday serves as a reminder that Jesus is the true King, not just of Jerusalem but of the entire world. He came to save us from our sins, not just from our earthly problems. He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom but a heavenly one, as he stated in John 18:36,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
As we celebrate Palm Sunday, let us remember that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, who came to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Let us also reflect on the fact that we too must choose whether to follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior or to reject him as the people of Jerusalem ultimately did.
In conclusion, Palm Sunday is a significant day in the Christian calendar that marks the beginning of Holy Week. It reminds us of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the symbolism of the palm branches as a symbol of victory and triumph. It also serves as a reminder that Jesus is the true King, who came to save us from our sins and establish a heavenly kingdom. Let us reflect on these truths as we celebrate Palm Sunday and prepare for the Easter season.
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