Introduction: The King Who Came to Die
Palm Sunday is often seen as a day of celebration, a moment of triumph, and a scene filled with joyful proclamation. We picture Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy as the people wave palm branches and shout, “Hosanna!” This is a moment we all recognize – excited crowds, praises sung, the anticipation of a Messiah. But as we pause for a moment, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly grasped the deeper meaning of this event?
Today, I want us to take a step back and explore Palm Sunday from a fresh perspective. While this is undeniably a moment of praise, it is also a moment of profound misunderstanding. The people anticipated a political saviour, one who would overthrow the Roman Empire and restore the earthly kingdom of Israel. But Jesus, the King who entered Jerusalem that day, came with a far greater purpose. His mission was not to deliver them from political oppression but from spiritual death. They hoped for military conquest, yet Jesus was bringing a cross. They sought immediate relief, but He came to offer eternal redemption.
As we walk through the story of Palm Sunday, I want us to examine it through three crucial lenses: the expectations of the people, the mission of Jesus, and the personal choice that confronts each one of us today. This day was a pivotal turning point in history, and it demands a response from everyone who encounters it.
The Expectations of the People: A Misunderstood King
John 12:13 “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’”
The people of Jerusalem were desperate for a saviour. They had suffered for years under Roman rule, enduring harsh taxation, cruel oppression, and a sense of powerlessness. They longed for the Messiah, someone who would come to deliver them from the oppression of their enemies and re-establish God’s kingdom on earth.
So, when Jesus entered Jerusalem that day, riding on a donkey, they saw the fulfillment of their long-held hopes. They greeted Him with palm branches – a symbol of victory and triumph – and shouted “Hosanna,” meaning “Save us now!” Their cries echoed from Psalm 118, a passage that spoke of the coming of God’s anointed one. In their minds, Jesus’ arrival meant the beginning of a revolution, a moment when God’s kingdom would finally be restored.
But their expectations were far too limited. While they were looking for deliverance from Rome, Jesus came to deliver them from something far more dangerous: sin and death. They sought an earthly king who would bring immediate relief, but Jesus came as the eternal King who would bring about an eternal kingdom.
How often do we, like the crowds, try to shape Jesus into our own expectations? We want Him to meet our needs, solve our problems, and fulfill our desires. We approach Him as a means to an end rather than as the Saviour of our souls. But just as the people on that first Palm Sunday misunderstood Jesus’ mission, we too can be guilty of limiting Jesus to our own agendas.
We must ask ourselves: Do we follow Jesus only when He meets our expectations, or do we trust Him even when His plan doesn’t align with our own desires? Palm Sunday calls us to let go of our small visions and embrace the greater purpose He has for us.
The Mission of Jesus: A Kingdom Not of This World
John 12:14-15 “Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’”
Everything about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem was intentional. His choice to ride on a donkey was not by chance. It fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which described the Messiah as humble and peaceful, not seeking conquest through force, but through love. Earthly kings entered cities on warhorses, symbols of power and military might. Jesus, however, rode in as the Prince of Peace, a king unlike any other.
Jesus’ mission was not to deliver Israel from political oppression but to deliver humanity from the power of sin and death. While the people shouted praises, their understanding of His mission was incomplete. They wanted a military leader to overthrow their Roman oppressors. But Jesus, fully aware of the path ahead, was not preparing for a military conquest but a divine mission to conquer sin through His own sacrificial death on the cross.
Though the crowds saw Jesus as the answer to their temporary problems, He knew that His mission was far more profound. His purpose was not to establish an earthly kingdom that would pass away but to establish an eternal kingdom where death would be defeated, and sin would no longer have power over us.
His entry into Jerusalem, while celebrated by many, was a deliberate step toward the cross. Jesus, the King of Kings, the Creator of the universe, chose to lay down His life for the very people who were about to reject Him. This is the essence of Palm Sunday: the King who deserves all honour and glory – willingly chose suffering for our sake. His love for us was so deep that He embraced the cross, knowing that through His sacrifice, we would be offered eternal life.
Have we truly grasped the weight of what Jesus did for us? Palm Sunday is not just a celebration of a historical event; it is a call to surrender. If our King gave up everything for us, how can we hold anything back from Him? Jesus did not come to meet our expectations – He came to fulfill the will of His Father. The path to salvation is through the cross, and following Jesus means embracing the cross as well.
The Response of the World: Rejection and Acceptance
John 12:19 “So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’”
The response to Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem was mixed. The common people rejoiced, but the religious leaders were troubled. They saw Jesus as a threat to their power, influence, and control over the people. For years, they had opposed Him, and now, His growing popularity seemed to be unravelling their grip on the Jewish people. The Pharisees, blinded by their desire for control, missed the very Messiah they had longed for. Rather than embracing Him, they plotted against Him.
And yet, even among the crowds, there were those who would turn away. The same people who shouted “Hosanna” on Sunday would shout “Crucify Him” on Friday. Their faith was shallow, rooted in what Jesus could do for them, not in who He truly was.
So, where do we stand? Are we like the Pharisees, resisting Jesus because He challenges our comfort and threatens our control? Are we like the crowds, following Him when it’s easy, only to abandon Him when it becomes difficult or inconvenient? Or will we be like the few faithful who followed Him to the cross, remaining by His side no matter what the cost? Palm Sunday confronts us with the question: Will we choose to embrace the King Who came to die for us, or will we reject Him in favour of our own comfort and expectations?
The King’s Invitation: What Will You Do with Jesus?
Palm Sunday is not just an historical event – it is a question posed to every human heart. Jesus presents Himself as King, but will we accept Him on His terms? To accept Jesus as King is to surrender everything to Him. It means laying down our own expectations, our desires, and our agendas, just as He laid down His life for us. Following Him means choosing the path of the cross, where we deny ourselves and embrace His will above our own.
This is not an easy road. It is the way of sacrifice, the way of humility, and the way of suffering. But it is also the way of true life. For after the cross comes the resurrection; after surrender comes victory. Palm Sunday calls us to pick up our cross and follow Him, even when the path seems uncertain or difficult.
Luke 9:23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Are we willing to take up our cross? Are we ready to lay down our palm branches of superficial praise and pick up the cross of true discipleship? Palm Sunday invites us to make that choice: Will we follow Jesus, not just when it’s easy, but even when it costs us everything?
Conclusion: A Different Kind of Triumph
Palm Sunday is a paradox. It looks like a triumphal entry, but it is actually a march toward death. It seems like the beginning of a revolution, but it is the path to surrender. It feels like a moment of victory, but it is setting the stage for the greatest sacrifice in history.
And yet, in this paradox lies the greatest truth: Jesus’ victory was not in avoiding the cross, but in embracing it. Because He chose the cross, we now have hope. Because He died, we can live. Because He was rejected, we can be accepted.
So, today, let us not simply wave palm branches and sing “Hosanna.” Let us lay our lives before Him in surrender. Let us follow Him – not just to Jerusalem, but to the cross, and ultimately, to the empty tomb. Hosanna to the King – not the king we expect, but the King we need. As we praise the King of Heaven today, may we do so with our eyes wide open and with hearts ready to surrender to this King as we embrace His mission afresh in the days ahead.