Palm Sunday
of the Passion of the LordBefore He entered Jerusalem for Passover, riding on a donkey;
before he was greeted with glorious shouts of “Hosanna”;
before palm branches were waved by all recognizing him as the Messiah, Christ our King and Mighty Warrior;
and before cloaks were spread on the ground to line his procession,
Jesus predicted his Passion to His disciples.
However, they did not comprehend what he was trying to tell them until after his death and resurrection.Palm Sunday is the beginning of the holiest week. We know Jesus’ ultimate victory after intense suffering, agony, and death on the cross, but his followers had no idea what would soon happen.
Jesus Reveals the Passion
Our Gospel today, Luke 22-14-23:56, and the Gospel for Good Friday, John 18:1-19:42, walks us through the Passion of the Lord – the journey to the cross to help us be in the scene and understand the depth of Jesus’ love and sacrifice.
Jesus Himself warned His closest companions of this.
Matthew 16:21-23, tells us Jesus first revealed the Passion by telling the disciples He “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Imagine their confusion and disbelief of such awful news. Peter responded in anger, “God forbid, Lord!”
Then later as they were gathering in Galilee before making their way to Jerusalem, Jesus said to the disciples again, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day (Matthew 17:22-23).” The disciples must have been distraught and extremely concerned.
We can put ourselves among these followers of Jesus. Certainly, they had mixed emotions – Jesus was predicting a horrible death, yet as they entered Jerusalem, the crowds were joyfully shouting His praises.
The people lining the way validated the love and devotion the disciples already had for Christ. Certainly, a relief would have come over any grief or confusion they had over Christ’s predictions.
As we attend Palm Sunday, we do so with reservations for we know the dark days are soon approaching – torture, denial, and death.
Conversely, with that same wisdom taught to us by Christ, by the Gospels, by our parents, pastors, and teachers – focus on the real reason for Christ’s Passion. For we know in the end God triumphs and death is defeated. Since that moment millions of people, us among them, raise their voices in praise for Christ our King.
May we enter into this most holy time mindful of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ and recognize Him every moment of our lives as the Messiah – Savior of the World!
