Christians around the world are observing the all-important
occasion to what is known as the Holy Week that leads us to Easter Sunday where Jesus Christ eventually died on a cross for all of mankind's sins; and then rose again on the third day. It is the most significant series of events that ever took place to which separates it from every other religion known to man. If we were to take a role call at every tomb of the leaders who ever birthed some particular religious following it would go something like this: Buddha? Here! Mohammed? Here! Jesus? <Silence>. Jesus would not be there because He is not a man that He should die...No! He is the Son of God forever to be praised because He lives! Therefore, the Holy Week is at the center of the Christian faith. In addition, for one glorious week, differences of language, culture, race, and even denominational doctrines that Christian's dispute over are all put aside as this week connects all of us to the same Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the whole world once and for all. That act alone connects all of us that are believers in Christ to the same family despite our many differences.

 

Eight days that begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter encompasses the most sacred events of the Christian faith. Everything that we as believers hold most dear in our faith was proved to be true during this great week in Jerusalem. As we observe the Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday I am fully aware that many have never considered the real meaning of the various details that led up to Easter morning. In other words, have you ever wondered, "Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey? Why did the people wave palm branches? Why did they cry out "Hosanna!" as He passed by? In fact, of all the events of that Holy Week, the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ coming into Jerusalem is the most-overlooked and least-understood. What actually took place on Palm Sunday was that "Truth" came riding upon a borrowed donkey into Jerusalem as an unsuspecting king. Truth is not always the easiest thing for us humans to recognize and submit to as it always ends up proving how wrong our thinking usually is, and we don't like to be wrong about anything. I can tell you this, although crowds cheered the Truth on that day, beneath the surface of all that emotional display was the inward conflict raging inside as to what all of this attraction to this pauper king really meant. The majority did not really want the Truth that day even though you couldn't tell it in the frenzy of all their cheering as you will see. And I dare say that Truth is not all that welcomed today either, though we have what seems to be a great deal of displays of Christendom in our world.

 

Let's go back in time to that very moment just before Jesus would enter into the city of Jerusalem before a gathering crowd of enthusiasts attracted to this miracle worker who had raised someone from the dead. Whereas, this day began as all other days with an early sunrise and the sounds of merchants opening up their little shops; it would prove to be a definitive moment where the divine came face to face with such a fickle people that change their position as much as you can count on a pig returning to his mud-hole. Now, Bethany was not a very large town; it was more like a village or a cluster of homes and small businesses. Farmers were headed out to their fields for it was planting season; while mothers busied themselves with getting their little children up and dressed for the day. Yet, in one home it was a bit different because Jesus was temporarily staying there. This was the home of Mary and Martha who were sisters and who lived together with their brother Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead; which has not caused just a small stir among the people. We find in Scripture that Jesus often stayed at their house when He traveled through that region. It was obviously a special place of refuge for Him. However, this particular stay over was arranged for a whole different reason; because Jesus was summoned to attend a funeral of a very dear friend whom He loved very much to which He turned that whole situation into an awe stricken celebration that got the attention of the whole world.  

 

If you recall, it was just a day or two before Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. There were hundreds of people who had witnessed it, and by now thousands had heard of the news of this incredible miracle that Jesus had performed. It was so amazing, because never before had anyone ever raised someone from the dead; therefore His fame went abroad like an uncontrollable wild fire throughout the city. Now as the morning had come and it was clear to everyone at Mary and Martha's house that Jesus was not going to remain there any longer. As you could see it in His eyes; a look of a man who was on a mission. Certainly no one could imagine what was about to happen; and no one - not even the most perceptive among His disciples realized what was about to happen either. We discover in Scripture that Jesus' triumphal entry is repeated in detail by all four gospel writers. This implies that something critical is about to happen. The other thing that is most notable here in these four gospels is that Jesus is in complete control of everything that happens on that Palm Sunday.

 

In other words, unlike other events that happened in His life, Jesus is not reacting to someone's puzzling questions that needed a spiritual or kingdom answer. There are no sick folks lining up to be healed and there was no dead people needing to be raised up. There were no cries for Him to still the storms that were out of control or any Pharisees to confront for their hypocrisy. No! What Jesus is about to do here was take in all the praises of the people for the very first time and without the slightest hindrance to this occasion to which we are privileged to observe from the Holy Scriptures. So, the story of Palm Sunday begins with Jesus sitting upon a borrowed donkey and riding into the city of Jerusalem. If we look at Matthew's account of this story, we will find that Jesus riding upon a donkey was actually fulfilling an ancient prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. These words were written some 575 years earlier predicting that when the Messiah comes to Israel, He would come riding on a donkey.

 

These words found in Zechariah tell us two specific things about the Messiah. First, He will come as a gentle king riding on a donkey. Secondly, He would come as a righteous king bringing salvation to His people. Nothing would seem more unlikely or strange than for a king or much less the Messiah to come riding upon a donkey before His people. If the Scripture had not predicted it, no one would have been able to dream up something like this. In addition, this probably explains why the Romans sat idly by on Palm Sunday while tens of thousands of people flocked to Jesus. From their point of view, the whole thing was a complete joke. A king and a donkey! You've got to be kidding! No self-respecting king would be caught dead riding on a donkey as he makes his entrance into a city. If you wanted to impact your kingdom, you would have came riding in on a war-horse, or surrounded by soldiers, or seated upon a chariot. But...on a donkey!...No way! With this in mind it would not be hard to imagine the Romans laughing as they watched this spectacle unfolding.

 

Here is a pauper king, riding on a small borrowed colt, with a makeshift saddle made of garments and attended by an unruly mob whose only weapons were palm branches. Jesus didn't look much like a king. But I think that is the point that was being made here. He's a King, but He's not like any earthly king. The triumphal entry was an "acted parable," to which Jesus was sending a clear message to the nation of Israel. "This is what I am. I am your King, but I am not the King you were expecting!" Speaking of the unexpected, as Jesus was making His journey from Bethany to Jerusalem; the people along the road began to do something that no one could have predicted. As Jesus passed by them, they began waving these palm branches at Him. We might wonder what this all meant. In the Old Testament we discover that the Jews were told to wave palm branches as a part of the Feast of Tabernacles. Two hundred years before Christ, during one of the Jewish rebellions, they temporarily regained control of the Temple from the Syrians. They celebrated this by waving palm branches. We also can note that the Jews minted coins containing an image of palm branches on one side. This was a symbol of national liberation. Therefore, the palm branches represented a very joyful and celebration for the Jewish people.

 

Waving palm branches over Jesus equates to the same thing when the United States military came home from Operation Desert Storm and there were huge crowds gathered together welcoming back home our soldiers with the waving of our countries flag. When the Jews waved the palm branches as Jesus rode by them, they were essentially saying, "This is our hero and this is the day of his glory." It was the kind of welcome given to kings and conquerors. This brings us now five days before the Passover which means that Jerusalem would be clogged with people who have come from every part of Israel for the great celebration of the Passover. The Works of Josephus says that during the Passover the population of Jerusalem could swell above three million people. Everyone who was anyone would show up for the Passover. In such an atmosphere of festive anticipation, rumors would soon quickly travel among the people. One such story being tossed around was how this Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The people knew there was great animosity that existed between Jesus and the Temple leaders. They were probably wondering if Jesus would even come to Jerusalem for the Passover (John 11:53); wondering if He would take a chance and come knowing that these religious leaders were so opposed to Him.

 

Add to this the political climate that always existed in Israel and we can now see how this scene starts building into something beyond just the face of what seems like nothing more than a celebrant Passover Week. There were three main political parties: the Pharisees who always patiently endured the Roman rule; the Zealots who never endured anything and they especially hated the Romans; the Sadducees who ran the Temple complex and who cooperated with the Romans were much like puppets. Then in the mix of this we have two key rulers of the Roman Empire, Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas. Here we now have the stage set for one of the greatest confrontations of all time. Into this unstable situation comes riding Jesus upon a donkey. What do we suspect will happen next? Picture this if you can. Jesus is leaving Bethany for Bethphage and passing through the Mount of Olives where hundreds of people have now come running to join Him. Soon this crowd grows to an enormous multitude to which lines up all along this narrow dirt road leading into Jerusalem. If we read John's account of this, it is clear that another larger crowd in Jerusalem having heard that Jesus was on His way leaves the city to meet Him as He approaches the Mount of Olives.

 

Somewhere on the far side of the Kidron Valley, these two groups join together in shouting, singing, laughing, and dancing. It was a day of unbridled joy as these common people welcome Jesus to Jerusalem. Meanwhile back inside the city of Jerusalem the chief priests and scribes monitor the situation with increasing distress. A public display of support for Jesus was the last thing they wanted. It appears to them that the whole world has gone after this man called Jesus. Their shock turns into dismay and then to anger as the reports kept pouring in. The minutes turn to hours on Palm Sunday while two streams of human emotion converged. On one hand there is a rising excitement as Jesus nears the Eastern Gate; on the other hand there is the mounting opposition as these leaders decide that this Jesus would never leave the city alive. In the meantime, the procession makes its way toward Jerusalem and the shouting of the people grew louder by the minute. All four gospel writers make a point not only to mention that the people shouted, but also what they shouted. They specifically mention two things: First, they cried out "Hosanna!" and secondly, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" That word "Hosanna" is a Hebrew word meaning, "Save us now!" As one writer put it, Hosanna was a kind of Holy Hurrah! Every observant Jew immediately recognized the second statement as a quotation from Psalm 118. It was one of the best-known Messianic psalms. By shouting this out the people were in effect explicitly identifying Jesus as the promised Messiah.

 

Many times it is overlooked that Jesus gladly accepted the praise of the people on Palm Sunday. What a change this was. Why? Well, it is because for most of His public ministry whenever He worked a miracle He told people not to spread the word. Why? It is because He wanted the people to see Him as more than a miracle-worker. But not today! If Jesus once discouraged publicity; He now counts people being silent as inconceivable. Therefore, when the Pharisees heard the crowds praising Him, they urged Him to rebuke them. Jesus refused by saying, "If I tell them to be quiet, the rocks themselves will break out in praise to me." Now we see something that is very strange that only Luke recorded. At the height of the celebration Jesus begins to weep. This happened on the road to Jerusalem around the southern part of the Mount of Olives. I am told that as you travel that road, you will come to the crest of a small rise where the whole city of Jerusalem suddenly appears before your eyes. When Jesus saw the city, He began to weep. Now, Jesus was not weeping for Himself, but for the city that was about to reject Him. Jesus saw beyond the cheering crowd and knew they would soon turn to a mob that would cry out, "Crucify Him." Jesus knew that in just five days, comes Good Friday. Jesus was weeping for He foresaw the coming tragedy to which the Roman army would ransack Jerusalem killing thousands in 70 A.D. as a judgment for not recognizing their day of visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Luke 19:42-44 (MSG)
 ⁴² "If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it's too late.
⁴³ In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side.
⁴⁴ They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

In the midst of joy, Jesus was able to see the future clearly. He knew that because the nation of Israel would reject its Messiah, such awful judgment would soon fall. Why? God's Son had come and they did not recognize Him. Jesus came and they crucified Him. Jesus knew that the crowds are fickle. He knew that the leaders were plotting against Him and He knew the cheers would soon turn to mockery. Jesus knew on Palm Sunday what would happen on Friday. He knew the cross lay directly in His path. The amazing thing is that Jesus knew all of this, but He went anyway. This King of the Jews called Jesus rode on toward the city that would soon reject Him, nevertheless He had an appointment in Jerusalem. In the days to come some would look back and say, "If only we had known." But after Palm Sunday no one could truly use that excuse. They all knew! No one could ever say, "He didn't make Himself to be understood plainly." How could have Jesus made it any more clearer? On Palm Sunday no one was under any compulsion. The nation had a clear choice to make. So did the rulers. And we see that the Romans did nothing to interfere; while the priests stood by and watched it all happen. Every person in Jerusalem on that day made a choice. For better or for worse the die was cast. Jesus riding into Jerusalem had called for a decision and the nation rendered its verdict which shifts from cheers to jeers.

 

Let's look at the mixed reactions of the people on that Palm Sunday morning. Jesus comes riding into the city and there was wild confusion as the crowds acknowledged the King has come: the disciples praise Him openly; the children praise Him innocently; the crowds cheer Him but they do not understand Him; the city is curious but not committed. This now leaves only one group - the religious leaders, that large group of Scribes and Pharisees, the "Elders of Israel," the rulers of the Sanhedrin. What will these say? How will they respond? The people have spoken, but will the rulers follow suit? Three words sum up the "official" reaction to Jesus on Palm Sunday by these religious leaders: (1). Fright... (2). Frustration... (3). Anger... Fright: because they do not know what Jesus is up to. Frustration: because so many people cheer Him as He rides into the city. Anger: because they now see Him as an enemy of their personal interests, an enemy who must be eliminated before He ruins what they have going. The luxury of idle discussion is now past. The time for decision has come. Very soon the nation of Israel must render her verdict concerning Jesus Christ. The evidence is in, the jury has been instructed, and a verdict must soon be returned.

 

Kierkegaard gives us a penetrating word that applies to this moment in human history: "Jesus Christ is the object of faith - one either believes in Him or is offended by Him." There are only two choices: you either believe or you are offended by Him. The truth about Jesus is a two edged sword. It cuts both ways. No one can stay in the middle of the road forever. To make no decision is to have already made a decision. We find in Matthew's account that the whole city was stirred. That word "stirred" means to be shaken to the core. People were asking who this man was; and the answer that came back, "It is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. Mark ends his account of the triumphal entry by telling us that after Jesus entered Jerusalem He went to the Temple, but because it was so late in the day no one was there. Therefore, He left Jerusalem with His disciples and went back to Bethany to spend the night. Such a strange way to end a momentous day, don't you think? So, what did Jesus accomplish on this day? What was this Palm Sunday all about? Why the triumphal entry?

 

If you want the answer in one sentence, it goes like this: Jesus was sending a message to Israel on Palm Sunday, a message that the time for decision had come. No longer would the people have the privilege of discussing His credentials in an abstract manner as they reason over what He did or spoke. On this day Jesus presented Himself to the nation, asking for an immediate decision. The answer He ends up receiving was not very encouraging to say the least. Although the crowds cheered Him, they did not truly understand Him. Although the leaders understood Him, they did not cheer Him. Israel came close, so close on that day to embracing Him as God's Messiah. But close wasn't good enough. After Palm Sunday the only thing left was Golgotha. After some twenty-one centuries have come and gone since Jesus met His appointment in Jerusalem, we now find three abiding lessons for our consideration.

 

(1). Spiritual Opportunities Don't Last Forever...

 

Where Jesus Christ is involved, no one can wait forever in making a decision. No one can sit on the fence. There comes a time when a decision must be rendered for or against the Son of God. In spiritual matters; not to decide is to decide. To say "not now" is really to say, No! It's not enough to be interested in Jesus. Millions of people who are interested in Him have no living relationship with Him. The people of the first Palm Sunday were interested. The whole city was stirred to the point of discussion...but not to the point of action. Mere interest will never save you. The gospel saves only those who believe...not those who talk about believing. Interest is good if it leads to action; if not, interest will eventually harden into disinterest and ultimately into hatred. Spiritual neutrality is a temporary way-station, not a permanent destination. No one stays there forever. There is a time to think and a time to decide; a time to be silent and a time to speak out; a time to discuss and a time to make up your mind. Palm Sunday reminds us that each of us must sooner or later make up our minds about this man called Jesus Christ. Let me quote Rollo May if I may:

 

The reason we do not see truth is not that we have not read enough books or do not have enough academic degrees, but that we do not have enough courage.

 

If knowledge alone would save us, the whole world would be saved by now. But knowledge without courage leads you to an intellectual cul-de-sac. It takes courage to make any important decision in the spiritual realm. It takes courage to believe in Jesus and then follow Him. Rarely is knowledge the root of our problem. Mostly we just lack the courage to embrace the truth and live it outwardly with boldness before an unbelieving world. Look what Revelation tells us:

 

Revelation 21:8 (NLT)
⁸ "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars-their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold witnesses, therefore there should be no backing down for those who call themselves believers in this unsuspecting King who rides into the hearts of men.

(2). The World that Rejected Christ then...Still Rejects Him Today!

 

People of the world and the legalistic people as well, hate emotion in a person's religion the same way that the Pharisees hated the crowds cheering with enthusiasm as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. They hate religious emotion because they do not understand it. To them religion is an intellectual affair that never touches the heart enough to affect them emotionally to become submerged into it completely. But Jesus will have none of this. If a person will not give Him his heart, Jesus will have no part of that person. I tell you although this may sound very strange, I assure you if Jesus came riding into the city of Dallas today or your local city to where you might live today, Jesus would be crucified all over again. Why? It is because people lack the courage to oppose the greater masses that are offended by Him.

 

(3). The Invitation is Not to Believe only...but to be Courageous to Follow Him!

 

Jesus Christ comes again and again to the human heart. Each time He does, a verdict must be rendered to what you will decide to do with your life. Are you going to follow Jesus or are you going to coward down to the masses who ultimately reject Him? Our greatest need is for the courage to make the moral stand for what is right and holy. Palm Sunday reflects a clear revelation of just how we celebrate with joyfulness as Jesus comes into our heart and forgives us of all our sins. Yet, many do not fully understand that from the moment when the new man comes forth from Christ...once He enters our life, it creates a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory that is emotionally alive within us; yet, we must also understand just as importantly that we are currently "living" between that triumphal entry of Christ our King when He entered our heart; and our eventual personal resurrection day when He returns for us.

With that being said, it is imperative that we understand that life between Palm Sunday and Easter is where we are all at, spiritually speaking; and it is a space of time that we must have the courage to follow Him when so many in this world opposes this Christ which dwelleth in us. Palm Sunday is a reminder of the glorious entrance of the King of kings into our lives! It is filled with excitement, shouting and celebrative dancing. Whereas, Good Friday holds all of us to a sobering reality as we realize our Lord was crucified on that day; and we too that believe must reckon ourselves crucified to the flesh along with Him right now though we currently live in this world at present. You and I are living between Palm Sunday (His entrance into our life as we accepted Him as our King) and Easter morning (our resurrection unto eternal life). This in-between space of time is where we must follow the will of God in all that He has called us to, though we are faced with many obstacles in life that presses us unfairly and treats us with disdain.   

 

2 Corinthians 4:16 (AMP)
¹⁶ Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

But in the words of Christ: "Be of good cheer! I have over come the world."  Therefore, should we be faced with some insurmountable opposition or difficulty in life; be sure to note that we will finish as winners if we faint not!

 

1 Corinthians 15:52-57 (KJV)
 ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice! I pray that this upcoming Easter will be a reminder of just what Jesus Christ did for you personally when He rode into your heart on that day of your visitation; and that you will never again fear that coming dark Friday called death that we all will eventually face one day; for this Christ has liberated us and no longer are we held under deaths captivity ever again... This King walked out of that dark tomb and who faithfully promises that we too...will rise again on that glorious day when the trumpet blows. Amen!