Celebrate Palm Sunday with understanding

This beautiful spring weather is a reminder that Palm Sunday is rapidly approaching! Palm Sunday is also known as the Triumphal Entry. That day was a momentous day in Jerusalem. Matthew 21:10 says that the entire city was stirred. This means “to be shaken with a great earthquake.” Tens of thousands of people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. The people shouted, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:9).

Yet only four days later many of these same people rejected Jesus. Jesus entered Jerusalem on Sunday, April 2, 30 AD. Four days later- on Thursday- some of these same people shouted, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matthew 27:22). The crowds mocked Jesus on Friday morning as He hung upon the cross.

How can we understand the Triumphal Entry? As we celebrate Palm Sunday, what was happening that Sunday in Jerusalem? There are four clues to understanding that momentous day in Jerusalem.

The first clue is that Jesus rode upon a donkey. Jesus told two of His disciples (probably Peter and John) to go to a nearby village. Jesus told them, “Go into the village opposite you and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt there with her; untie them and bring them to me” (Matthew 21:2).

In the first century there was no stigma attached to donkeys. Abraham was a very wealthy man and he rode upon a donkey. The Talmud said that only a king can ride on a king’s animal. When a person was crowned king he often rode upon a donkey.

That day Jesus entered Jerusalem as a king. As Jesus entered, the people took off their cloaks and He rode upon them. All of this is evidence of kingship. Jesus is the rightful king.

The second clue is that Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Zechariah 9:9 predicted, “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.” Zechariah 9:8 (the previous verse) focuses upon Alexander the Great. Alexander entered Jerusalem riding upon a white stallion. Alexander focused on war. Jesus rode upon a donkey. Jesus came to bring peace. Most importantly Jesus brings peace with God and with our fellow man.

The rabbis understood this as a messianic prophecy. The Scriptures promised the Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding upon a donkey. Jesus fulfilled messianic prophecy.

The third clue is the date. Under the Roman calendar the date was Sunday, April 2. Under the Jewish calendar it was the tenth day of the month of Nisan. Exodus 12:3-6 said that the Passover lamb was to be set aside from the tenth to the fourteenth day of Nisan. The Passover lamb had to be perfect- without spot and without blemish. The Passover lamb was set aside for five days to make certain it was perfect.

Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Passover Lamb. He was tested over the next several days. He died on Friday to fulfill the Feast of Passover. For hundreds of years the Jewish people celebrated Passover. When God’s people left Egypt the blood from the Passover lamb was placed upon the doorposts of their homes. The angel of death saw the blood and “passed over” their homes. Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” Jesus had to die for our sins.

Josephus said that during Passover over a million pilgrims came to Jerusalem. On the very day Jesus entered Jerusalem tens of thousands of Passover lambs were set aside. The Feast of Passover pointed to the death of Jesus on the cross. John the Baptist saw Jesus for the very first time. He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29).

The fourth clue is the actions of the people. Unfortunately, the people did not want to celebrate Passover. They waved palm branches. They shouted, “Hosanna!” (Mark 11:9). Hosanna means, “Save us now! Deliver us now! Rescue us now!” Sadly, the people were not interested in eternal life- a spiritual salvation. They wanted relief from the Romans.

Jesus came the first time to offer a perfect sacrifice. He died to deliver us from the wrath of God. God is holy. He must punish sin. The Father poured out His wrath upon Jesus on the cross. Jesus is coming again to set up His kingdom and reign for a thousand years.

Palm branches and shouting hosanna were all part of the Feast of Tabernacles. Tabernacles points to the messianic kingdom. When the people realized Jesus came not to destroy the Romans but to offer salvation from sin, they turned against Him.

As we celebrate Palm Sunday (the Triumphal Entry) let’s celebrate with knowledge. Jesus is a King. He fulfilled prophecy. He was the perfect Passover Lamb. He is coming again to set up His kingdom. We don’t celebrate the Feast of Passover today. Why not? Because Jesus fulfilled the Passover! He died for us. We can know God through His Son Jesus. Let’s thank God for sending His Son Jesus to die for us.

Ethan Hansen is the pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake