Palm Sunday 2025

4/13/25

Matthew 21:8-9:“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’”

If you grew up in church, this verse describes what we learned as children about Palm Sunday. We joined in processionals and marched around the church as we waived palm branches. Palm Sunday was a day of joy and celebration.

From the eyes of the people who witnessed Christs’ entry into Jerusalem on this Passover in 30AD, that is how many of them felt as well. They were jubilant; they were shouting accolades and spreading out their clothing and branches as signs of honor and reverence. These desperate people were filled with expectations shaped by their hopes for political liberation and Messianic understanding.

They believed that Jesus came to free them from the oppression of the Roman rule and would restore Israel’s political and military power. They anticipated a Messiah, a King, who would usher in a new golden age for their nation.

This procession, which entered on the east side of the city, was a combination of reverence, awe, mystery, curiosity, and honor. The people were so excited that in John 12:19, “The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: ‘It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him.’”  All of life felt the elation and joy of Christ’s presence… for when the Pharisees ordered Jesus to control the crowd, we are told in Luke 19:40 that Jesus exclaimed, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” 

The crowd that observed Jesus recognized this moment as fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, which described the coming of a humble king riding on a donkey. They hailed Him with cries of “Hosanna,” meaning “Save us now,” reflecting their hope for immediate deliverance. They called him “Son of David,” which expressed their belief that Jesus was the heir to David’s throne, destined to lead Israel to greatness.

Those were the expectations as seen from the perspective of the people who attended this event. But from their despairing perspective they misunderstood the nature of Christs’ kingdom. They sought a ruler who would bring political power and victory, but Jesus came as a suffering servant to establish a spiritual kingdom through humility, sacrifice, and love.

Although Passover was an annual Jewish celebration, this year there were thoughts of unrest floating about. Outside of Jerusalem, a rabbi known as Jesus, was gaining more and more popularity. He was approachable, likeable, trusting, accepting, and loving. Jesus’ ministry was primarily north of Jerusalem, in and around the distant town of Galilee, so the people of Jerusalem would not have seen him. But the stories about him had spread, so many had heard of him, and many came to see him and honor him. As an example, on the Saturday before Passover, Jesus had resurrected his friend Lazarus, in the town of Bethany, just miles from Jerusalem.

These stories arrived in Jerusalem and concerned its governor, Pontius Pilate. He saw his job as controlling the Jews who arrived in throngs to this event and temper the political tensions between the Jews and the local Romans. With the whispers that Jesus was “The King of the Jews,” and that he had claimed to be the Messiah, he had healed the blind and raised the dead, tensions were on the rise and Jerusalem had become more heated than usual.

This Passover of 30AD would be a festive occasion for many, but not for everyone who attended this religious festival.  For the Jewish common folk – yes, they were excited. But for the Roman guards and centurions who monitored activities, and the local religious and political leaders, there was grave concern.

There had recently been unrest in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas. Fresh rumors of turmoil floated through the community, so Pilate decided to demonstrate control and headed an imperial procession that embodied the power, might, and glory of the Roman empire. It emphasized pageantry, military strength, authority, and control. This showy pageant entered the city from the west entrance with soldiers of all kinds, chariots, warhorses, footmen, archers, drummers, and banners waving, reinforcing the dominance of the empire.    

The intention was to send a message, to intimidate, create an atmosphere of awe and dominion. He wanted to inform those who may be plotting against the Romans that any disturbance was intolerable and would be dealt with decisively. Also, Pilate’s spectacle underscored the Roman theology that Emperor Tiberius bore divine titles, such as “Son of God,” “Savior,” and “Lord,”  

We will never know what was on the mind and heart of Christ as he chose to enter Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey, but it was not intended to be a triumphal entry. Certainly not a heroic entry of the sort made by Pilate and his soldiers. Jesus rides in without any grand ceremony – on a donkey, just one of the people. And the manner of his entry is really anti-triumphant. Regardless, the people rejoiced and cheered, welcoming him as one who came in the name of the Lord. But the manner of his entry was a profound theological and political statement.

Jesus was teaching, demonstrating, and highlighting the opposing values of God, and of the emperor who was deified as a god. The opposing values of the God of peace who demanded justice for all and who stood by the poor and under-privileged, against the values shown by the Roman hierarchy, with its God-emperor, of greed and oppression and brutality and who crucified those who stood against them.

This was a deliberately engineered confrontation between Jesus and the Roman Empire. Jesus knew full well what the response of the authorities would be – both the Roman authorities, and the Jewish leaders who were desperate to keep the peace. And far from triumphal, as was Pilate’s intention, this procession ends not with a crown of gold but a crown of thorns.

This is how Christ worked in the world and continues to work within us: always giving us choices, showing us alternative paths, teaching us to face conflict with love despite life’s conflicts and complexities. Jesus teaches us to face the truth of a situation and not try to change it in our minds just to make it feel better. He showed us how to lean on God’s understanding and wisdom, and not our own. Palm Sunday is a reminder that Jesus steps into the middle of life’s conflict and chaos on our behalf. He leads us down a road to redemption, new life, forgiveness, transformation, love, hope, and most of all peace. In a violent, chaotic, and backstabbing world, Jesus trots down the road of peace on a donkey.

It is my prayer that we see Palm Sunday as more than a short-sighted celebration. It is a day to know that Jesus comes to us, to our hearts, our minds, to our city, our home, our families, our lives, and into our challenges to lift us above them. He comes not in a crusade of imperial dominance and control, but on a journey of love, peace, and humility.

It is always our choice. Which will it be? Two kingdoms. Two processions. War horse or donkey? The dark or the light.