Preparing for Palm Sunday

For those Bible Institute students preparing for Palm Sunday, here are five biblical facts to help with sermon preparation.

Triumphant Entry: The event is primarily recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19). This unanimity underscores the significance of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, where He was welcomed by crowds spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road, shouting “Hosanna!” which means “save, please” or “save, we pray.”

Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey fulfills the 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.” This act signifies Jesus’s peaceful kingship and his role as the Messiah.

Use of Palm Branches: The Gospel of John specifically mentions the use of palm branches (John 12:13), which were symbols of victory and triumph in the Jewish tradition. The people waved these branches and laid them before Jesus as He entered the city, acknowledging Him as their hoped-for Messiah and king.

Jesus Wept Over Jerusalem: In Luke’s account (Luke 19:41-44), as Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it, prophesying its destruction because it did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them. This moment highlights Jesus’s deep compassion and sorrow over the spiritual blindness and the fate of Jerusalem.

The Hosanna Shout: The crowds shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9). The term “Hosanna” was a plea for salvation, and over time, it became a declaration of praise. By shouting these words, the people were acknowledging Jesus as the Davidic Messiah who comes in the name of the Lord.

These biblical elements of Palm Sunday illustrate the complex interplay of joy, celebration, prophecy, and looming sorrow that characterizes the start of Holy Week, leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.