What is Palm Sunday?
Here's the answer:
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, when Jesus made His "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem.
On what we now call Palm Sunday, the people who lived around Jerusalem celebrated Jesus as He entered the city. It was kind of like when your favorite sports team wins and takes a victory lap or rides in a victory parade.
Before Jesus and His disciples went into the city, Jesus asked the disciples to find a donkey colt for Him to ride: "As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage. It was on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two disciples. He said to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a donkey tied up. Her colt will be with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them. The owner will send them right away'" (Matthew 21:1–3). Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem.
The Bible tells us that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted Him by waving palm branches and putting palm branches on the road in front of Him. This was their way of welcoming Him to Jerusalem. (And this is why we call it "Palm Sunday"!) The people thought Jesus had come to Jerusalem to become their king and save them from the Roman oppressors. They didn’t understand that Jesus’ kingdom was in heaven, and not on earth.
Now, in more modern days, many churches also call Palm Sunday "Passion Sunday," because it’s the beginning of Holy Week. This is the week when Jesus died on the cross and then rose again from the dead. Churches often celebrate by having a palm branch parade and reading the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem.
We don’t have to wait until Palm Sunday to celebrate Jesus. We can celebrate Jesus just like the people of Jerusalem by praising Him and thanking Him for His love and care for us every day.
Bible Truth
"So they took branches from palm trees and went out to meet him. They shouted, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13).
"City of Zion, be full of joy! People of Jerusalem, shout! See, your king comes to you. He always does what is right. He has the power to save. He is gentle and riding on a donkey. He is sitting on a donkey’s colt" (Zechariah 9:9).
