PALM SUNDAY

What, why a palm? Why palms? Why couldn’t it be a branch from an evergreen or cherry tree?

Palms represent 3 major things: victory, triumph, and peace.

Today is the beginning of Holy Week. The stage is set for what is to unfold. There are six inch spikes in the bin. There is a cross leaning on the wall. Thorns are wrapped around a trellis waiting for a soldier to weave them together. All the props for Friday’s drama are all in place. The participants come near the stage—these are the Passover pilgrims visiting Jerusalem. Caiphas, Judas and the others are all there. Centurian soldiers are waiting for their next order.  This isn’t really a play or stage show… it is the divine plan of God. And now all of heaven waits and watches. All eyes are on the Nazarene named Jesus. He is uncommonly clad as he leaves Jericho to walk the 10 to 15 miles to Jerusalem. He doesn’t talk much, He doesn’t pause, He is on His final journey. Even the angels are silent now as they watch and wait, for they know this is not an ordinary walk, but a walk to eternity.

Let’s walk with Jesus to see how he spent His final days.

He knew his end was near. Trivial things are bypassed and overlooked. Only what is necessary and vital remains. He knew the finality of Friday, for He already read it before it was even written. His every act is premeditated. He is conscious of the sand as it slips through the hourglass.

Jesus never wanted to be called the Messiah until this time. He rode the colt into Jerusalem as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. There were garments on the ground, palm branches being waive, and shouts of “Hosanna.” The scribes and pharisees urged Jesus to silence the people.  But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40.

They wanted a warrior. Instead, they got Jesus riding on a colt in humility and lowliness. This colt was a wild animal, having never been broken in. But when Jesus sat on him, he was responsive and obedient. The crowd cried out “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Hosanna means saves us now. These same people will shout “crucify Him.” The question is if you were there what would you be shouting? Hopefully it would be “Hosanna” and not “crucify Him.”  But do we crucify Him today? Not nailing Him to the cross, but crucifying Him by our actions and thoughts, what we say to our spouse, family, friends, neighbors, or bosses. Are we crucifying Jesus with our actions today?

After a president is elected in the United States there is an inaugural parade, where he walks down Pennsylvania Avenue to his office in the White House. Thomas Jefferson was the first; Woodrow Wilson saw the largest crowd during the parade. Jesus had an inaugural parade of sorts – He rode into Jerusalem in a grand parade until he occupied his “office” at a place called Calvary. The beating He took while carrying His cross, the nails through his hands, were all part of his inaugural walk before He went to His “office” for you and me.

As we begin this Holy Week and walk with Jesus, we should cry “Hosanna” and carry this worship the rest of the week. We know the end of His story from beginning to end and everything that happened in between. We read about it and are amazed at what they did to Him. He endured it all for the love he has for us. We are now destined to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

This Holy Week starts now. Remember the start was “Hosanna” and ended with “Crucify Him”.  But that wasn’t the end. The end was His resurrection.