Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian liturgical calendar, commemorating Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem shortly before His crucifixion. The event is described in all four Gospels—Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19. As Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, crowds gathered, spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road, shouting "Hosanna!" which means "Save now!" This act of laying down palm branches symbolized honor and recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, fulfilling the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9, which states, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey."The use of palm branches specifically points to a symbol of victory and peace, historically associated with Jewish nationalism and celebration. In the context of Palm Sunday, it highlights the recognition of Jesus as a king, albeit one whose kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). The day serves as a poignant reminder of the duality of Jesus' kingship—celebrated by the people yet leading to His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, as the same crowds would later call for His crucifixion. Thus, Palm Sunday encapsulates both the joy of Christ's recognition and the impending sorrow of His passion, setting the stage for the events of Holy Week.

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