By 
I treasure the experience of having visited Israel on Palm Sunday. In amazement I watched the pilgrims wave huge palm branches, as they recreated in their hearts the day Jesus entered Jerusalem amid worshiping throngs. The joy was contagious! Several days later I spotted it—a discarded palm branch. It lay among the ruins of Caesarea Maritime, the port city on the Mediterranean where Paul sailed for Rome to state his case before Caesar. The palm branch tips had begun to yellow and sand collected in its grooves; nevertheless, I shook the sand off and waved it joyfully! My sister snapped a picture.
My own heart turned to celebrating this event that we now know began the countdown to our Savior’s death. Just as worshippers then eventually discarded their palm branches, many also would eventually discard the Savior. The Apostle John alone recorded this account of the triumphal entry that included the reference to palm branches as part of the celebration:
The great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it as it is written
“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;
see, your king is coming
seated on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:12-15, NIV)
As Jesus and His disciples walked to Jerusalem, they made their way up the steep slopes of the eastern side of the Mount of Olives through two villages, Bethphage and Bethany. Matthew identified Bethphage as the location where two disciples located the donkey and her colt. The village sat on the back side of the Mount of Olives, just beyond the top ridge. The winding mountain path through it provided the route for travelers to Jerusalem festivals.
This scene brings to my mind the recent addition to the herd of cattle on my father’s ranch land—a “Bethlehem donkey”. It derives its name from the brown cross-shaped markings that run across the shoulders and back. The donkey's purpose is to protect the newborn calves from coyotes; but it has also entertained my granddaughters by nuzzling their fingers for graham cracker treats. I can easily envision her colt, and how Jesus would have looked riding it as He crested the ridge and viewed Jerusalem below. It was a powerful moment for both Jesus and the crowd of disciples that had begun to gather.
The donkey colt fulfilled the messianic prophecy of Zechariah 9:9; but John tells us that only later would the disciples understand all these things: At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him (John 12:16, NIV). For now, they too were caught up in the joyful moment.
The Gospel writers record the praise “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” These same words are found in Psalm 118:26, a ritualized welcome for pilgrims arriving in Jerusalem to celebrate their annual feasts. The song of Psalm 118 continues with another reference to boughs in hand as the pilgrims join in the festal procession:
The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:27-29, NIV)
Today’s followers of Christ are aware of what lay ahead for Jesus. The chief priests, the leaders, and the people’s voices among the worshiping crowd would later win out with their own shouts of “Crucify! Crucify him!” On this day though, when the Pharisees in the triumphal entry crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” (Luke 19:39, NIV), Jesus responded, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40, NIV).
Psalm 148 reinforces Jesus’ words:
Praise the LORD from the earth, ….
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds...
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted. (Psalm 148:7-13, NIV)
John offers us one more spectacular reference to palm branches—in the hands of white robed worshipers in heaven!
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10, NIV)
Let’s join with those who worshipped in abandonment the One who came as their Savior and King. Let’s join with the disciples who understood afterward that all these things had been Scripture’s fulfillment. Let’s join our praise with the mountains and hills, winds and clouds! Let us, too, proclaim:
You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:28-29, NIV)
Linda Lesniewski
Linda served as Women’s Minister at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX for 24 years. She has authored "A Little Book About Knowing a Big God" for children; "Women at the Cross" and "Connecting Women: A Guide for Leaders in Women’s Ministry", by Revell; as well as "His Story My Story", a digital download available from LifeWay. Linda enjoys spending time with her four young adult children and six granddaughters. She has served on the Womenary Board of Directors for many years.
You can contact Linda at lindalesniewski49@gmail.com. 
