Holy Week - Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday: Remembering the King Who Came in Humility

As we enter into Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter Sunday, tradition brings us to the remembrance of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in the final days before His crucifixion. This moment in history is what we know as Palm Sunday.

As we remember and prepare our hearts for worship on Palm Sunday, we experience a unique emotional tension. It is both a day of sorrow, as we recognize that Christ’s suffering and death are drawing near, and a day of rejoicing, as we celebrate His ultimate victory over sin and death as the King of Kings.

This event is recorded in all four Gospel accounts: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19. The Gospel writers describe crowds lining the road, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matt. 21:9). Mark records the people celebrating the “coming kingdom of our father David,” (Mark 11:10), while Luke tells us that the disciples praised God for His mighty works and declared, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38).

Jesus’ arrival on a colt that had never been ridden fulfilled the Messianic prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9, which foretold a king coming “righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey.” The crowd’s cries of praise also drew from Psalm 118, a song traditionally sung by Jews as they approached Jerusalem for Passover and again at the close of the meal. The day itself takes its name from the palm branches people laid before Jesus, a Middle Eastern custom used to show honor and welcome.

Yet, even in this moment of celebration, the story contains a deep and sobering irony. When Jesus descended from the Mount of Olives, the crowds believed the long-awaited Messiah had finally arrived. Hope filled the air. Expectations were high. But within just a few days, everything changed. Jesus was betrayed, abandoned by His disciples, condemned, and crucified.

From a theological perspective, Christ’s entry into Jerusalem points forward to the victory of Easter. It reminds us that even in the shadow of the cross, resurrection is coming. His arrival was not the beginning of defeat, but the beginning of the victory He would accomplish through His death and resurrection for all who place their faith in Him.

What Does Palm Sunday Mean for Us Today?

The Palm Sunday narrative invites us to examine our expectations about power, leadership, and what it truly means to follow Christ in our own lives.

The story’s political setting is still very relevant. It unfolds against a backdrop of oppressed people longing for freedom from dominating forces, a reality that has repeated itself across cultures and throughout history. The people who welcomed Jesus were not just celebrating; they were hoping for deliverance.

Yet the kingdom Jesus established operates according to very different principles than the kingdoms of this world. Instead of being built on force, control, or influence, His kingdom is rooted in humility, self-sacrifice, and love. That truth challenges us to look honestly at our own hearts. When we advocate for change, serve others, or stand for what is right, are our actions shaped by Jesus’ vision of humility and love? Or do they sometimes reflect the world’s ideas about power and success?

Our Posture Toward Christ’s Work

A second lesson from Palm Sunday has to do with our posture toward Christ’s work.

We live in a culture that values action with quick responses, strong opinions, and immediate involvement. While passion and engagement can be good things, Palm Sunday reminds us that wisdom and discernment are just as important. Sometimes we need to pause and ask, “What is Jesus doing here?” before rushing to join the crowd.

The people on that first Palm Sunday were full of excitement, but many misunderstood Jesus’ mission. Their enthusiasm was real, yet their expectations were off. Receiving a costly gift often proves more difficult than giving one.  It requires humility and trust. Palm Sunday calls us not only to act, but also to respond in faith; to receive and accept what Christ offers rather than trying to manage or redirect His purposes.

Following Jesus sometimes means letting go of control and trusting Him to lead.

The Gap Between Expectation and Reality

Finally, the Palm Sunday story highlights the gap between our expectations and reality. We find ourselves standing alongside those who praised Jesus as a traditional liberator, yet He entered Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a warhorse.  That single image speaks volumes. The people expected a conquering king. Instead, they received a humble Savior.

When we truly reflect on this story, we feel the tension between the way the world defines power and the way God defines it. That tension invites us into the mystery of God’s kingdom, a kingdom that often works in quiet, surprising, and sometimes uncomfortable ways.

And it is often in that discomfort, the moment when life does not unfold the way we expected, that genuine discipleship begins. Faith grows when we choose to trust Christ even when we do not fully understand His plan.

Palm Sunday is not just a story to remember; it is an invitation to examine our hearts.

1. Examine Your Expectations of Jesus

The crowds expected a conquering king, but Jesus came as a humble Savior. We should ask ourselves: Am I expecting Jesus to work according to my plans, or am I willing to trust His ways, even when they look different from what I imagined?

2. Slow Down and Practice Discernment

Not every crowd is right, and not every loud voice represents God’s will. Palm Sunday reminds us to pray, seek wisdom, and listen carefully before reacting or acting.

3. Learn to Receive What Christ Offers

Sometimes the greatest step of faith is surrender. Jesus offers forgiveness, grace, and salvation, but He also calls us to humility, obedience, and trust. We are invited to receive His work in our lives and to respond to Him in faith, obedience, and daily surrender.

Resources

1. Robert E. Webber, The Biblical Foundations of Christian Worship, in The Complete Library of Christian Worship (Nashville, TN: Star Song Publishing Group, 1993), 201–202.

   
   

2. Craig L. Blomberg, Matthew, New American Commentary, Vol. 22 (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992), 310–316.

   
   

3. Andreas J. Köstenberger, John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 364–370.

   
   

4. R. T. Kendall, Understanding Theology, Vol. 2 (Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 2000), 167–168.

   
   

5. Cynthia L. Rigby, “Commentary 2: Connecting the Reading with the World,” in Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship: Year B: Lent through Pentecost (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2020), 116.