5 Things You Did Not Know About Palm Sunday

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Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and begins Holy Week, also known as Passion Week. It is the day that Christians celebrate the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, an event recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11: 1-11, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19. On that day, as Jesus and His disciples traveled toward Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to locate a donkey.

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They returned with the donkey and spread their cloaks on it, and then Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey. When He did, cro3wds gathered, spreading their clothes and branches on the ground and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel” (John 12:13).

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Making a path with garments or branches was a customary way of honoring a person (2 Kings 9:13), similar to laying out a red carpet in modern times. In essence, the people were praising Jesus and asking Him to be their Messiah, though likely in a political context rather than a spiritual context. Sadly, less than a week later, the same people shouting “Hosanna” would shout “Crucify Him” (John 19:6). Interested in learning more about Jesus’ triumphal entry? Here are six things you didn’t know about Palm Sunday.

Palms Were a Symbol of Goodness and Victory

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God’s Word tells us the people cut palm branches and waved them in the air, laid them out on the ground before Jesus rode into the city. The palm branch represented goodness, well-being and victory and was symbolic of the final victory He would soon fulfill over death. 1 Corinthians 15:55 says, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Palm branches were often depicted on coins and important buildings. King Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple (1 Kings 6:29).

Jesus Fulfilled Old Testament Prophecy

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Jesus chose to ride in on a donkey, which directly fulfilled Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, daughter Zion! Shout, daughter Jerusalem! See your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” In biblical times, it was common for kings and important people to arrive by a procession riding on a donkey. The donkey symbolized peace, so those who chose to ride them showed that they came with peaceful intentions.

Palm Sunday is About Peace and Salvation

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The then Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, would come into Jerusalem with his soldiers for Passover, showing his strength through the arms his men carried. Jesus, however, came on a donkey with all His disciples unarmed, to demonstrate the Kingdom of God and His peace.

Jesus Wept For Jerusalem

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The Bible says that Jesus wept for Jerusalem. In the midst of the praise of the moment, He knew in His heart that it wouldn’t be long that these same people would turn their backs on Him, betray Him, and crucify Him.

Many Churches Celebrate Palm Sunday With Reenactments

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Today, many churches celebrate Palm Sunday with reenactments of the triumphal entry. Catholic churches often bless palm branches with holy water and then distribute them to congregants. These palm branches are then saved for us following Ash Wednesday. In regions where palm branches are not readily available, branches of other trees are used.

Palm Branches Are Not Thrown Out

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After leaving church on Palm Sunday, you’ve likely come home with several long Palm branches from the celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Also, you may have wondered what happens to palms after Palm Sunday. Because the palms are blessed, they cannot simply be thrown out as rubbish or discarded.

Instead, the palms are burned after being used during the Palm Sunday service and the ashes are used to mark parishioner’s foreheads on the next Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.

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