This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It is the introduction to Holy Week and the important days we will commemorate this week such as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and ultimately Easter Sunday.
I have good memories of Palm Sunday. At one of the churches I attended as a boy, we all had palm branches and re-enacted the events of the Palm Sunday story. When I was older, my church gave everyone palm crosses signifying Palm Sunday and Good Friday. I know of one church in a nearby city that has a big parade on Palm Sunday with donkeys, sheep, horses and other animals. It sounds like fun.
Palm Sunday has been something of a puzzle to me. How could the people who shouted hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord be the same people who shouted crucify him less than one week later? It's hard to understand.
So, what do the events of Palm Sunday have to teach us as 21st century Christians? What can we learn from these events in the life of our Lord?
The first thing that strikes me from Palm Sunday is that Jesus is worthy of all of our praise. When the people praised Him and spread their garments in His path as He rode into Jerusalem, Jesus accepted the praise of the people. In fact, in another Gospel's account of Palm Sunday, the Pharisees demanded that Jesus command the people to cease from their praise and adoration of Him. Jesus said that if these people were to be silenced even the very rocks would cry out in praise of Him. In other words, Jesus is worthy of praise and adoration, and all of creation, even the inanimate creation, is aware that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This reminds me of my Dad and the two rocks he used to carry in his pocket. One day my Dad went to his church and the minister was speaking about the rocks crying out. After the message, the pastor handed out rocks to everyone and asked them to carry them with them throughout the week. He said that if anyone asked them why they were carrying the rocks, the people should respond that if we don't praise Jesus, the rocks will cry out.
My Dad didn't just carry those two stones in his pocket that week. He carried those stones for years right up until the day he died. I can't tell you how many times people asked my Dad why he carried around those stones in his pocket. Every time he was asked my Dad said, "If I don't praise Jesus, even the rocks will cry out." Everyone got a big kick out of it, and it turned out to be a good witness.
How can we bring praise to Jesus? The first thing that probably comes to mind is praising Jesus through song. This is a wonderful means of praise.
I know that the trend in evangelical churches is toward contemporary worship. But, I like the old hymns. In my opinion, they have a deeper meaning than some of the more modern music. Whatever the music, the important thing is to look to Jesus and make Him the focus of our adoration.
We can also praise Jesus by doing His will and His work in the world. When we obey Jesus' commands and follow His teachings, we are praising Him because we are acknowledging that we believe that the things He taught are true. When we feed the hungry, clothe the naked and help the hurting we are praising Jesus who said, "When you have done it unto the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto me."
Another component of Palm Sunday I find interesting is the fact that Jesus rode into Jerusalem knowing what was going to happen, yet He rode into Jerusalem anyway. Jesus knew what His mission on earth was from day one. Jesus was born in order to live a holy and sinless life, show us the way to live, die on the cross to purchase our redemption, and then to rise from the grave to conquer sin, death, and hell.
Jesus left the halls of Heaven and took upon human form. He became a servant obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
How much Jesus must have loved the world He made to put Himself through all of the the suffering He went through. He knew that He would be mocked, spit upon, and despised. He knew that He would be flogged, forced to carry His own cross and then be crucified between two thieves. Jesus knew all of these things, yet He rode into Jerusalem to give His life for the salvation of the universe. It was His will to restore all things.
Jesus loved us so much He was willing to do all of this. What Jesus wants is for us love Him and accept Him. He wants us to praise Him and thank Him for all He has done.
One day, Jesus will come again. He will return on a white horse leading the Heavenly host in glorious victory. When Jesus comes again every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.
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