Sunday Reflections: The Meaning of Palm Sunday

By Rev. Dai Morgan

For churches in the Western Christian tradition, which follow the Gregorian calendar, today is Palm Sunday. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, which follows the Julian calendar, Palm Sunday will take place five weeks later on April 28.

So, what is Palm Sunday, anyway?

Simply, Palm Sunday commemorates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. All four biblical Gospel accounts tell the story. This took place about a week before the Resurrection. Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem riding a donkey—a symbol of peace, as opposed to a warrior on horseback. The people who greeted him, in a gesture of honor, covered his path by laying down clothing and branches. The Gospel of John notes specifically that palms were used.

The entry of Jesus in Jerusalem is “Triumphal” because it is an action intended to declare that the Prince of Peace (Jesus) has arrived as the King of Israel. It was patterned after the Old Testament statement in Zechariah 9:9, where it says, “Everyone in Jerusalem celebrate and shout! Your king has won a victory and he is coming to you. He is humble and rides on a donkey. He comes on a colt of a donkey.”

In the Helenistic culture of the Roman world during the time of Jesus, the palm branch was understood to be a symbol of triumph and victory. One way to identify the goddess Nike, the personification of victory, is that she holds a palm branch.   

However, the Gospel story does not end with the Triumphal Entry. For those who opposed Jesus, his entry was provocative. To those who wanted to eliminate him, this undoubtedly confirmed their worst fears. Consequently, triumph turned to tragedy. The Triumphal Entry was actually the beginning of the end of Jesus’ life. These last few days have come to be known as Passion Week. Those who wished to destroy Jesus were able to achieve their aims. Within days of this entry into Jerusalem, Jesus had been apprehended, tried and executed by crucifixion, on the charge of sedition.

Indeed, Palm Sunday is also referred to as Passion Sunday. Though these are the same day, there are really two different concepts implied by the titles. When the day is recognized as Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry and its messianic implications are emphasized. When the day is recognized as Passion Sunday, the sacrifice of Jesus and the seriousness of human sinfulness are emphasized.

The important thing to remember is that Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday is not the end. There is more to the story. In fact, triumph-which-turned-to-tragedy will turn again to triumph! Palm Sunday is merely the prelude to Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday follows Palm Sunday. Easter is the hub and the focus of the liturgical calendar. Easter is the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and all the promise that comes with it. Easter, in a single word, is the reason for the Christian religion. To put it another way, Christians are the people of Easter faith.

Easter Sunday always follows immediately after Palm Sunday. Christians believe that Easter—the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and God’s invitation to have victory over death through relationship with Christ—is the ultimate “Triumphal Entry.” In the last book of the New Testament, Revelation 7:9, the author paints a joyful picture where an uncountable multitude, wearing white robes, stand before the throne of the Lamb (Christ) and holding palm branches shout, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” 

The Rev. Dai Morgan is pastor of Living Spirit Ministry-Swissvale United Methodist Church.

_______________________

Forest Hills-Regent Square Patch is on Facebook and on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by clicking here.