Think of the best day you could ever have. You wake up to your favorite breakfast, you spend time with your favorite people, you watch your favorite movie, and then you win the lottery.
Now imagine knowing that your best day ever is a week away from the worst day of your life. Would that affect the way you spend your best day? That’s basically the story of Palm Sunday.
The first Palm Sunday was a celebration in which followers of Jesus loudly and excitedly worshiped Him and, for the first time, showed a bigger understanding of His identity. But it also took place just one week before the public crucifixion of the Son of God. It’s a story of mixed emotions, radical humility, and dashed expectations.
What Is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, which spans the seven days between Palm Sunday and Easter. It’s a Christian holiday that celebrates the authority, mercy, and humility of Jesus.
Where Is the Story of Palm Sunday in the Bible?
This story is found in Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19. It also fulfilled a prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9.
Story Summary of Palm Sunday
- Jesus sent two of His disciples to find a colt (a young donkey).
- When they brought the colt to Jesus, they laid their coats on its back, and Jesus rode it into Jerusalem.
- A crowd of people excitedly waited for Jesus and, when He arrived, laid palm branches and coats on the ground for the colt to walk on as a sign of honor.
- The Pharisees told Jesus to quiet His rowdy followers, but Jesus said even if they were silent, the stones would cry out.
- When Jesus saw the city and the people calling out to Him, He wept, anticipating both His death a few days later and the things those same people would be forced to reckon with after His crucifixion.
- Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem for Bethany.
The Main Point of Palm Sunday
The first Palm Sunday showed us, tangibly, the kind of king Jesus is: one of peace, humility, kindness, and ultimate sacrifice.
What Does Palm Sunday Teach Us?
Jesus offers peace.
Jesus was telling the people who He is: not a self-serving agitator, but a selfless peacemaker.
The people of ancient Israel would have associated colts with peace. By choosing a donkey to be the (not-so) noble steed to carry Him into town, Jesus was telling the people who He is: not a self-serving agitator, but a selfless peacemaker.
And the best part is, Jesus offers that peace to you. Through the Bible, the church, and the Holy Spirit, we can turn away from the constantly changing, anxiety-inducing, unsettling nature of the world and claim the peace Jesus offers us.
Jesus subverts expectations.
It seems like every time people in the gospels wanted Jesus to be a warrior-king coming with rules and a sword, they got the humble, servant-king Jesus who came with mercy and grace. That was true when He came to the world as a baby in a manger, and it was true when He entered Jerusalem on the back of a colt.
Jesus often doesn’t react to things the way we might expect Him to. He feeds the hungry, forgives the sinful, heals the broken, invites the outcast, serves His people, walks in justice, offers mercy, and sends the Holy Spirit to help us do the same.
You’re the colt.
I’ve thought a lot about where I’d fit into this story. Which character can I relate to? The first answer is obviously a person in the crowd who was giving Jesus the honor He was most certainly due. I’d be somewhere in the back, a little nervous to be in a big crowd, gladly putting my palm leaf on the ground and feeling excited to see what Jesus would do.
But I can also very easily relate to the colt, and maybe you can too.
Think about a story you know where God chose somebody to bring His message to the world. That “somebody” He chose was not picked because they were the strongest, smartest, cleanest, fastest, or the most obvious choice. They were chosen because they were so inescapably loved by God, and they were willing to go.
God didn’t pick you to bring His good news to the world because you’re perfect. He picked you because He loves you, knows you, and wants you to be a part of His big moments.
If you’re thinking, “That’s my testimony,” I think the colt would say, “Me too.” God didn’t pick you to bring His good news to the world because you’re perfect. He picked you because He loves you, knows you, and wants you to be a part of His big moments.
Common Questions About Palm Sunday
1. Why is it called Palm Sunday?
The “Palm” in Palm Sunday refers to the branches the people were laying on the ground for Jesus’ donkey to step on. This was a sign of honor. Practically, the branches were laid on the ground so a king’s giant, expensive horse didn’t have to walk on the gross, dusty road.
So the image of the dirty little colt walking on ancient Israel’s version of a red carpet is a powerful and beautifully poetic statement about the victorious and humble king Jesus.
2. What did the people mean when they said “Hosanna”?
As the crowds went out to meet Jesus with their palm branches, they shouted, “Hosanna!” and, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:12-13 NIV)
The word hosanna essentially means “save” or “save us.” The crowd was likely quoting Psalm 118:25-26, which says, “Lord, save us! … Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
At the time of the first Palm Sunday, hosanna would have carried a similar celebratory weight as “Hooray!” It was a joyful shout that the people had waited to use in order to finally welcome their righteous, merciful leader.
3. Why does Palm Sunday feel joyful and sad at the same time?
Although there was joy surrounding the people in Jerusalem as they welcomed and honored Jesus in a new, powerful way, Jesus Himself carried a palpable grief because He knew He would be crucified very soon afterward.
If you’re going into Palm Sunday—or any day—with mixed emotions, just know that’s normal. You can feel the joy of knowing Jesus loves, saves, and heals you while also reckoning with grief, pain, and sin. That is a huge part of learning to live as a follower of Jesus, and Palm Sunday reminds us that’s okay.
Reflect or Discuss
- How do I respond when God’s answers look different from what I had hoped?
- What does it mean for me to serve a humble God in a culture that values power and success?
- What expectations do I place on God that I rarely admit out loud?