Palm Sunday 2023
Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week, and we hope you have a blessed one!
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:1-11
Palm Sunday 🌿 A day to praise our Mighty King!!! Thank You, Jesus, for showing us the blessed Way – for being our Lord + Savior!
Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The day is celebrated on the Sunday before Easter, which falls on different dates every year.
On Palm Sunday, Christians around the world celebrate Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, just a week before his crucifixion. According to the Gospel accounts Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, while crowds of people spread their cloaks and branches of palm trees on the ground as a sign of honor and welcome.
The palm branches are significant because they were used as a symbol of victory and triumph in ancient times, and were often waved by people welcoming a victorious military leader or king. In the case of Jesus, the crowds recognized him as a different kind of King, one who came not to conquer through force or violence, but to bring peace and salvation through His teachings and sacrificial death… one who arrived in humility, in a stable, on a donkey…
The celebration of Palm Sunday has its roots in the Jewish festival of Sukkot, which was held in the fall and involved the waving of palm branches. The symbolism of the palms was later adapted by Christians to represent Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and his eventual victory over death through his resurrection.
In many churches, Palm Sunday is marked by a special procession in which the congregation carries palm branches and sings hymns. The priest or minister blesses the palms and distributes them to the faithful, who then carry them home and use them to decorate their homes as a sign of their faith.
The week following Palm Sunday, known as Holy Week, is a time of reflection and spiritual preparation for Easter. During this time, Christians attend special services and meditate on the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Overall, Palm Sunday is a time of great joy and celebration for Christians around the world, as they remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the hope and salvation He brings. It is a reminder of the power of faith and the triumph of love over hate, and serves as a source of strength and inspiration for believers everywhere. As a little girl, I remember being given a palm cross during the service, and I treasured it as a symbol of my faith. Today, many years later, I still have that palm cross, and it holds a special place in my heart as a reminder of my childhood and the importance of Palm Sunday in my life.