I remember applauding the fabulous floats and high school bands passing by during my first parade. The crowd’s enthusiasm was intoxicating, and I couldn’t help but join in. At the Palm Sunday parade, I wonder if some of the crowd was drawn into the celebration without realizing the realities of proclaiming Jesus as their King? What was Jesus thinking as he looked at the crowd?
The Parade for Jesus
The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!" (John 12:12-13, NLT)
On Palm Sunday, the crowd hailed Jesus as the King of Israel. However, their vision and understanding of a king were linked to their experiences with imperfect earthy kings. The people looked at Jesus through a military understanding and the assumption that Jesus would overtake the Romans and restore power, wealth, and rulership to the Jewish people.
However, many Jewish people had forgotten the old Scriptures foretelling that the Messiah would enter the city on a donkey. He would be crucified and resurrected on the third day. To be fair, living as a Christian was dangerous and often deadly during these times. Rome wanted to keep their power at any cost, and so did the religious leaders.
The religious leaders enjoyed ruling the Jewish people, and Jesus was interrupting their rulership. Not only were people questioning the religious leaders, now they were hailing Jesus as the Messiah and King of Israel. The religious leaders didn’t know how to handle the people following Jesus while keeping their power.
When Jesus entered the city, the old Scriptures were fulfilled. However, the Jewish leaders weren’t willing to surrender their expectations of a powerful Jewish king that would destroy the rulership of Rome. They let their hard hearts and hunger for power stop them from seeing and accepting that Jesus was God’s Son and their Messiah.
How Jesus Saw the Palm Parade
Jesus knew this parade would happen, and people would be excited about their deliverance; they believed from Rome’s rule. God and Jesus had a bigger plan. I wonder if Jesus saw this crowd as lost sheep looking for their shepherd just like his words from the gospel of John.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep." (John 10:11, NLT)
Jesus understood the Jewish people’s challenges with Rome’s rulership. However, he was most concerned about their eternity. Jesus had the opportunity to change the eternity of every person’s spirit if they chose to follow him. Jesus would free us from being chained to sin and death, and believers would become the temple of God. As God’s temple, Jesus and the Holy Spirit could dwell in us in our imperfect human condition.
Jesus viewed the parade as the first step to fulfilling God’s plan. He stepped into his crucifixion the moment he mounted the donkey and entered the city. Jesus knew his pain, yet he embraced God’s will because of his love for his sheep.
Our Service to King Jesus
Jesus showed us that our lives must mirror Him as we follow him even if the crowd doesn’t understand.
Then he (Jesus) told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? (Luke 9:23-25, MSG)
Jesus wants us to follow his example. Let us love others as he loves us. Let us trust, surrender, and obey Christ’s teachings and example with a heart full of love, joy, and peace as we work with him and overcome our challenges.
During this Palm Sunday, think about why you chose to follow Jesus. Recount all the many times he has shown up in your life. Remember, God’s word is truth, and not all of his prophecies have been fulfilled. One day Jesus will come in the clouds to gather all his people, and we will be in the ultimate parade to glory!
