Beyond the Triumphal Entry
I want to take a slightly different approach on Palm Sunday. The focus is (and rightly should be) on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. But I want to talk about the crowd of people. Why did they gather? What were their motivations? What did they expect? Ultimately, the cheers of the crowd were laced with expectation and anticipation. The cheers came with strings attached. What were those strings?
The Loaded Symbolism of Palm Branches
"The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him." — John 12:12-13 (CSB)
Let's not miss the symbolism that is connected to the language. The palm branch was both a religious symbol and a symbol of revolt and rebellion. In 1 Maccabees 13:51, there is a historical description of a celebration for Simon of the Maccabees after a victory over the Syrians. Earlier in Jewish history, the palm was even minted on coins during rebellion.
In ot…
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