The Significance of Palm Sunday: Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Palm Sunday, or Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is recorded in all four gospels, underscoring its weight and significance. No longer keeping His identity out of the spotlight, Jesus publicly acknowledges that He is the Messiah by riding into Jerusalem like a king to glorious shouts of praise. The triumphal entry marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is the week leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion. 

Making Preparation

As Jesus and His disciples travel up to Jerusalem, He prepares for His entry into the city. In Luke 19:28-30, as he nears Bethany near Mt. Olive, he instructs two disciples to go to a neighboring village. There they’d find a colt tied that hadn’t been ridden. They were to untie it and bring it to Him. No man had ever sat on this colt. In verses 31-34, He further instructs them to tell the owners of the colt that the Lord needs it if they ask why they’re taking it.

Having accomplished this assignment, the disciples bring Jesus the colt. Jesus needed to ride into Jerusalem on a colt, as this exactly fulfills Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” This colt was consecrated or set apart for the Lord’s triumphal entry.

Rejoicing and Praise

Before Jesus mounts the colt, His disciples throw their garments onto its back. Everyone is excited as their King, and as some see him, their Messiah, rides into the city. As He draws near to Jerusalem, descending Mt. Olive, the crowd erupts in praise, rejoicing in His powerful works, including raising Lazarus from the dead. In verse 38, they proclaim, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

In Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts, they shout, “Hosanna in the highest.” In John’s gospel, he says, the crowd also cries Hosanna, and “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” His triumphal entry brings excitement in the air.

The Triumphal Entry

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowd’s exuberance announces His presence. They spread their garments in His path and wave palm branches, and some toss them down before Him. Jesus openly acknowledges this praise from the people, no longer telling them to hold their peace or not reveal His identity.

By this, Jesus is making a public claim that He is the Messiah, the King of Israel, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. This entry into Jerusalem is symbolic of Jesus’s spiritual kingdom, where He is praised and worshipped because He is deserving of the honor. Shouting His praise openly signifies that He is the King they have long been waiting for. Palm branches are significant for His triumphal entry, as they symbolize victory.

Hosanna to the King

However, this crowd doesn’t fully understand Jesus’s mission of being the Savior of the world, the One who will lead them into God’s Kingdom of righteousness. They want freedom from Rome and see Jesus as the Leader who will champion a revolt against Rome. And even though they are praising Him, shouting Hosannas and waving palm branches, they quickly turn on Him when He doesn’t meet their expectations. Yet this triumphal entry is Jesus’s moment of praise.  

Story of Contrasts

The triumphal entry, now known in Christendom as Palm Sunday, is a story of contrasts that give believers today deep spiritual meaning. Jesus enters Jerusalem as a King who comes as a lowly servant riding a donkey. He didn’t arrive in a chariot or on the most well-bred steed, dressed in royal robes. He came humbly and nonextravagantly. He didn’t come to take over a kingdom by force and reign as an earthly king. Jesus came with love, mercy, and grace. He came as an offering, a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, not just the Jews but all mankind.

Jesus Triumphs in You

Jesus did not enter Jerusalem to conquer armies and gain political influence, but minds and hearts. He had told His disciples that the greatest among them would be their servant. Jesus epitomizes servanthood and meekness. His entrance signifies His message of peace with God, not insurrection. Jesus’s triumphal entry should be experienced in believers’ hearts as we let His love and peace reign in us. This Palm Sunday, remember that when the world sees Christ’s characteristics in us, it sees the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords reigning triumphantly in our lives.