Palm Sunday is a Sunday that falls before Easter commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem in the Canonical Gospels.
The triumphant entry of Jesus saw Him asking His disciples to untie a donkey as He, their Lord and Master Jesus Christ had need of it. Although Jesus was fully aware of what He would face and experience in the week ahead, He humbly accepted the reception offered to Him as He entered Jerusalem. Palm leaves and coats were laid before Him as He entered the city, not on a horse of triumph but on an unridden colt of humility.
Palm trees are a common fixture of a tree that is synonymous with hot climates and within the Christian tradition the palm leaves have been used as a reminder of Jesus’ victory as such was symbolic, not just in the Jewish culture, but also that of the occupying nation the Romans.
Interestingly, the Romans used palm leaves to reward champions of the games or to celebrate victory in war. Jesus, as He enters into the city of Jerusalem entered triumphantly, yet never raised a sword, shot an arrow, killed a person, carried out acts of violence, that resulted in any harm to any person, yet the question asked, ‘why such a grandiose entry when there was no evidence or symbol of Him fighting any wars?’
We read the text in hindsight, and in so doing realise that the following week we are confronted by the same Jesus being put to a graphically violent death – a far contrast to His victronic entry.
For Jesus , His victory is not one that was seen in the physical, but instead in the spiritual as His triumphant entry symbolised His victory over sin and the devil and victory over death and the grave.
This week, celebrate that Jesus has entered into your life and brings victory to you over your situations and circumstances. Rejoice!