The Celebration of Palm Sunday
The celebration of Palm Sunday is bittersweet.
The crowd worshiped Jesus as He deserved, yet just one week later, the same people would mercilessly crucify Him, which He did not deserve.
In your own remembrance of Palm Sunday this year, consider the times when you do the same thing with your behavior.
Churches that celebrate Palm Sunday often recreate this event by passing out palm branches to all the participants in worship, or having children walk in a palm parade. Worship is joyful as songs honor Jesus as the true king.
Yet there is a note of sadness, because the remembrance for Jesus’ death is just a few days away.
The palm branch was the symbol of Jewish nationalism, much like our national flags are today. By waving the palm branches and paving the path for Jesus with them, the Jews were recognizing Jesus as their leader, their king.
This of course, caused great angst for the Sanhedrin (the supreme council, or court as chief priests, scribes, and elders and Roman counsel who met with them) in the days to come. The Jewish people “expected” their king to overturn their oppressive rulers!
They were giving their allegiance, their trust and adoration to Jesus. Oh my. This did upset the religious leaders of the day!
Some were also laying their cloaks before Jesus, riding on the docile colt.
Unlike the palm branch, the sign of allegiance and yielding to a king was the laying of the cloak for Him to walk upon, this was a sign of submission, obedience to the Jewish king.
On Palm Sunday many of us will wave palm branches in our church services at home this year! And, in doing this we will recognize, acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior. OUR Savior.
But are truly ready to lay down our own cloaks?
Can we relinquish control?
It is one of the great challenges to each of us…
Holy Week.
So much to reflect on.
So much happened leading up to the Living Sacrifice.
May All Our Praise be to the Loving God who:
… so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, (John 3:16).
In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ©
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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.
Amen
Amen! So true. The United States of America has been waving (i.e. “goodbye”) “palm branches” AT Jesus for many a year. “In God We Trust” is only lip service this nation pays to “god”. America says it’s a “Christian” nation, and because of this FALSE PREMISE, it believes NOTHING will bring the USA down. Our beginning Rock Foundation, weak as it was, was replaced with a footing of sand long ago. The Waves of Time and Reprobation have been eroding this nation’s footing DOWN to the current tipping point it finds itself at. There has been and is God’s Remnant who have and are laying their robes( of Self preservation) down under His Feet, just as The Hidden Ones in the caves during the times of God is YAH/Elijah. I believe the only MAGA to be advanced and celebrated is MAY ALMIGHTY GOD ARISE! Truly “ELIJAH” will come forth!
Mal 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
The True EL, AKA YAHVEH, will Reveal HIMSELF IN and THROUGH HIS Beloved in the Times ahead, Praise God!