On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the grand entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem for the final week of his life – known as “Holy Week”. This represented the highest point of Jesus’ popularity, as great crowds came out to welcome him into the city. In the drama of that moment, different people saw him in very different ways. As we look at those who interacted with him that day, we might see ourselves in those characters and ask, “How do I see Jesus?”
Some see Jesus as a threat – and reject him no matter what the evidence says.
A few days before Palm Sunday, Jesus arrived just outside of Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover celebration. In John 12:9-11, word got around where he was staying – at the home of his friend Lazarus – and people flocked to see them. Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44), which naturally brought a great deal of attention to both of them. The religious leaders saw Jesus’ growing popularity as a challenge to their own position, so they plotted to kill Jesus (John 11:53) – and now Lazarus as well. You would think the evidence of a divine miracle would convince them to follow Jesus, but it only increased their antagonism by undermining their power.
Many people respond the same way today. Jesus could show up in person and do a bonafide miracle, and they would reject him, because no amount of evidence can convince someone whose mind is already made up.
Some people see Jesus as Lord – and obey him even when they don’t have the full picture.
When Jesus was ready to go into the city, he sent two followers ahead to find a young donkey for him to ride, telling them where to look and what to say to its owner (Luke 19:29-31). Jesus had been in Jerusalem often, but had always come on foot. He did not explain what he had planned, or why he wanted a donkey this time. In response, the two disciples simply did what Jesus told them to do.
The disciples did have at least a piece of the bigger picture. The Old Testament prophet Zechariah gave two clues that shed light on that day’s events. First, he proclaimed that Israel’s future king would come riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Second, the king’s coming was associated with the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:3-4), the place Jesus was staying before he entered Jerusalem. The disciples also had plenty of reason to trust Jesus. They knew him. They had seen and heard him in many situations. His track record in their lives assured them that they could trust him even though he didn’t explain what it all meant.
Likewise, sometimes Jesus asks us to obey him even though he doesn’t tell us why, or what the outcome will be. We have to step out in faith, knowing that he has the full picture even when we don’t. We obey because Jesus is Lord, and he has proven that we can trust him.
Some see their own version of Jesus – and desert him when he fails to meet their expectations.
As Jesus rode through the gates of the city, he was greeted by huge crowds lining the streets. They spread their cloaks on the road before him, along with branches from nearby trees (Matthew 21:8). This is why that day became known as Palm Sunday. The garments were a sign of homage, while the palm branches were a symbol of Israelite national identity. In other words, the crowds were welcoming Jesus as their King.
The people of Israel had long lived with the expectation that God would raise up a king. They called him the Messiah, from the Hebrew word for “anointed one.” The words they shouted reflected those expectations: “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 19:9). The title “Son of David” reflects a promise God made to the great King David centuries before: that he would establish from David a dynasty of kings who would reign over God’s people. The people were also quoting from Psalm 118, which was related in Jewish lore to the Messiah “who comes in the name of the Lord.” Based on this, the people expected a warrior king, like David, who would restore the glory days of Israel’s ancient monarchy. For example, they assumed that the Messiah would lead them to victory over their Roman oppressors.
While Jesus entered Jerusalem amid this popular uproar, the mood of the crowds soon changed dramatically. Five days later, Jesus was arrested and condemned. When the Roman governor offered to release him, the crowds shouted, “Crucify him!” (John 20:14-15). What happened? A crucified Messiah wasn’t the warrior king everyone wanted him to be. The popular idea of the Messiah missed other Old Testament prophecies, like those about a suffering servant (Isaiah 53:2-7). So they had their own version of a Messiah, and when Jesus didn’t live up to it, they turned against him.
Even today, many people welcome Jesus on their own terms. They want a Jesus who will guarantee their health, make them wealthy, or give them a trouble-free life. When he doesn’t do what they envisioned, they abandon their faith. Of course, that doesn’t change who Jesus really is. But many people will only accept the version of Jesus they have invented themselves.
In this world, there will always be people in each of these three camps. But there is coming a day when everyone will see Jesus for who he really is. Revelation 7:9 gives us a picture of heaven that mirrors Palm Sunday. We see a vast crowd of worshippers standing before God’s throne. As Jesus appears – seen here in the form of a lamb – they lift palm branches into the air and shout their praises. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was not only the coming King. He was also the Lamb of God walking to his death on the cross. The cross was not a defeat; it was his ultimate conquest. By his sacrifice there, he freed his people, not from political oppression, but from sin and death. The book of Revelation also shows that one day, Jesus will come as a warrior king to rule the entire earth (Revelation 19:11-16). In the meantime, he rules in the lives of all those who follow him as Lord.
How do you see Jesus?
