All day long I've been wanting to write something about Palm Sunday, the day of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But every time I tried it just felt...contrived. I think maybe the reason is because in my characteristically structured, left-brained way of thinking, I immediately look for the main point. The neat outline. The essential details.
I want everything to fit together nicely in an organized and categorical way, and yet in the Scriptures describing Palm Sunday I find a scattering of emotions. An array of perspectives. A feeling, a hint. A sort of impression on the heart and stirring in the soul that mere practicality fails to capture.
I hear the whispery rattle of palm branches shaken—a symbol of victory, triumph and peace. I see flashes of green dancing in the glaring sunlight, stark against the dry white dust, thin leaves fanned on the hot ground. Shouts of 'Hosanna!', peals of praise, and echoes of singing rise together on the air. Faces beam and eyes are fixed expectantly, waiting for a glimpse of the Son of David, the promised King. A tapestry of cloaks carpet the earth paving the way for their blessed Messiah, the One they hope will deliver them from the crushing oppression of Rome!
I see silent tears—glistening streaks carved through the dirt and sweat on His face. I feel His pain, His gut-wrenching grief over the children He longs to gather in His arms. And I wonder, did His heart sink knowing the same crowds shouting 'Hosanna!' would also yell 'Crucify!'? Did He weep for the friends at His side who would turn and betray, who would deny and abandon, who would leave Him to suffer and die alone? What must Christ have felt when around Him people celebrated in expectation of His imminent rule, and all the while He drew ever nearer to His own agonizing pain, suffering and death?
Palm Sunday heralds the triumph of humility over pride, of poverty over affluence, of meekness and gentleness over rage and malice, of self-sacrifice over self-satisfaction. It illumines the staggering dichotomy between our worldly expectations and God's good purposes! The vast distance between our limited viewpoint and His eternal vision! The disappointment when our hope of deliverance is merely from the pain of circumstances instead of from the power of sin.
The Lord's victory was not what we were expecting, but more than we ever could have imagined! Palm Sunday acclaims the ultimate victory of God's love over the power of sin and death. It is a day to soberly remember the smallness of our perspectives and the pettiness of our desires, and thank God for His incredible wisdom, grace, and mercy. But most of all, on this day we remember and acknowledge the battle is won, and share in the glory of our risen Savior!