Throughout history any triumphant kings and heroes have returned from conquests to a great celebration of cheers and waving flags and shouts of adoration. In the first century a carpenter’s son was greeted in Jerusalem with great excitement and celebration for being the son of David, and the son of God.

Today we don’t re-create triumphal entries of Caesar or Napoleon, or King David, but more than too thousand years after the event, we gather to celebrate with waving palm branches, the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The church of a friend of mine celebrates by parading around their parking lot waving palm branches to the music of bagpipes and a drum.

Palm Sunday was the trigger that led the leaders of the temple in Jerusalem to plot the death of Jesus. It was also the affirmation of Jesus’ real identity to the world. Openly and loudly Jesus was affirmed as David’s son, and the son of God. The people who shouted “Hosanna” at the sight of Jesus were his own disciples and by-standers and children. The news of the raising of Lazarus had reached Jerusalem: Now the crowd that was with Jesus when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. (John 12:17-18)

“This sign” was the signal to many that Jesus was in fact the long hoped for Messiah, the one who would restore to Israel it’s unique relationship with God. The ones who longed the most perhaps, were children, a truth that Jesus acknowledged when he was rebuked by members of the Sanhedrin: “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus. Have you never heard, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.’ (Psalm 8:2)

The fact is that the “sign” was recognized by some common people, some friends of Lazarus , the disciples of Jesus, and children, but not by the Sanhedrin. The “sign” of Palm Sunday was the presence of God’s holiness in everything Jesus did and said, from the colt that had never been ridden, to the voices of children, and the cloaks on the road and the palms being waved. On this day we, too, recognize the sign.

Love in Him,

Prue