Palm Sunday is the church's celebration of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Merely three or four years after His ministry began, Jesus chose to walk into the city where He would die.
Jesus had told His disciples that he "must go to Jerusalem" and die. They were unhappy. They even tried to stop Him. But the parade along the road leading into Jerusalem was a planned segment of a rather lengthy journey.
The journey began in the Garden of Eden. The first sin had taken a bite out of man's relationship with their Creator. And in response, God had said to Satan (Genesis 3:15):
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
These words contain our first promise that God would make an end to sin and to Satan's power over mankind. The plan, however, is even older. Before the foundation of the world, before time, God knew Jesus would die.
And so, the Triumphal Entry is not so much a local hero's parade as it is an observance of the conclusion of a lengthy undertaking. We know much of the storyline: God created man and woman, and placed them in a perfect garden. They chose to rebel, to sin. God punished them, sending them out from the garden.
The Bible records the rest of the story: man flourished, man continued to sin. The Old Testament consists of story after story proving that man cannot rise above the power of sin without help.
The Incarnation, the birth of Jesus, is God come to earth as one of us to stand in our place as God punished our sin. Our Christmas is the gifting of the world with Jesus, fully God, fully man, our Savior from sin. Palm Sunday is merely a few more steps on this journey to rescue the helpless and hopelessly lost. Listen, if you will, to Matthew's account of the Triumphal Entry:
Matthew 21:1 . . . As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, {2} saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. {3} If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." {4} This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: {5} "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" {6} The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. {7} They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. {8} A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. {9} The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" {10} When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" {11} The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Finally, the crowds were getting that for which they had so long awaited: a coming king. They shouted with joy, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" and "Hosanna in the highest!" They even got it right:
{10b} "Who is this?" {11} The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
But they didn't understand. They had allowed their filled bellies to dull their ears. They had enjoyed the tricks. But they had failed to see the power of God come near through the miracles.
Jesus' arrival was more than a hero's parade.
Jesus' approach to Jerusalem was instead of surrendering to the easier path offered by Satan during His fast in the wilderness. Death, not surrender, would yield life for the dying.
Jesus' approach to Jerusalem was instead of surrendering to the easier path offered by the crowds looking for a king to feed them. Death, not surrender, would yield all that satisfies.
Jesus' approach to Jerusalem was instead of surrendering to the easier path offered by His disciples when they tried to protect Him. Death, not surrender, would open the gates to the Kingdom.
Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry, gives us significant and sufficient reason to cling to Jesus, Savior. Jesus' arrival to the gates of Jerusalem was no parade. Instead, we find Jesus willingly walking into the gaping jaws of death that awaited Him in the city. Armed with a commission to lay down His life for the lost, Jesus had come to town. Protected by the pledge of His Father's love, Jesus unhesitatingly walked to His own death.
Jesus' triumphal entry was not just a parade, not just a public display of the power of the presence of God. Jesus had come to Jerusalem to die. His entire life and ministry had ever and always been pointed toward the Cross. A Perfect Eden could not prevent sin's insidious designs against man's fellowship with God. The Law could not create an environment safe from sin's influence. And so, Jesus came wearing salvation by faith.
Jesus' regal entrance into Jerusalem was a parade for many: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" It was a wild ride for an enthusiastic crowd.
For others, Jesus' arrival was cause for concern, "Now what?" "The whole world is following after Jesus." This is not unlike today as we watch people "get all nervous" when they think someone is playing the God card. Truth has a way of making "the lie" very nervous.
Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem became an awakening for other people. Some in the crowd would later trust Him for life. A Roman soldier, at the foot of the Cross, would begin to consider the Christ. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was not just a hero's parade.
Look one more time at the proclamation of the excited crowd: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" The crowds shouted out in praise of the coming One. They knew they were Jewish. But they didn't know that they didn't know the man on the donkey.
The crowds testified that He was the coming Messiah. But they spoke out of total ignorance. Life had arrived. They enjoyed the parade. And a few days later, they would cry out for their Savior's death.
They were so close to the power that Created the universe. They were so close to the way to eternal life. But instead of bowing, instead of humbling themselves before God, they merely made a lot of noise.
Today, we celebrate, in remembrance, the coming of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem to die. Do you recognize Jesus? Do you recognize Jesus as the author of life? Do you recognize Jesus as the power of God come near?
In a moment, we will gather at the Table to reflect upon a good death, to consider the life we now live. Through the emblems, we are invited to touch, to taste, and to know that God is good. But before you come, consider two important questions: Today, as you celebrate the coming of Jesus, has He found a welcome place in your life unto salvation? Today, as you celebrate the coming of Jesus, has He found a welcome place in your daily life as the Lord of your life?
Please be reminded: The Bread symbolizes His Body, broken for us as He suffered our punishment. The Juice symbolizes His Blood, shed for us, the seal on His love covenant.
Cleanse your hearts through confession of sin, and then as the Lord leads you, come to the Table.
I would encourage you to allow these moments to set a mood for this week, time for thinking about Jesus in our lives. Is He Savior? Is He Lord?
