Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you; righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9 ESV)
How many times have I heard that verse, but gave no thought to the individual components of Palm Sunday? Rhetorical question, but the answer is “too many”. I need to understand what the parts truly signify.
Whats Up with the Donkey?
The donkey serves multiple purposes. First, it fulfills the prophecy from Zechariah that referenced a donkey and her colt. All four gospels reference the entry into Jerusalem, though the descriptions are not identical. But why a donkey? The Bible Study Tools help with that. Horses were related to military action, but donkeys signified peace and humility. When Jesus arrived at the city’s gate on a donkey, he entered not as a combatant but as the King of Peace. There is additional symbolism for donkeys, in general. They are beasts of burden, and Jesus’ life on earth was one of service, not as a member of royalty.
So, a donkey. But why one that had never been ridden–a colt? That creature had a specific, sacred purpose. It carried the Messiah, the Son of God. The donkey had to be an unbroken colt to meet the criteria. According to Apologetics Press, the presence of its mother was likely due to the colt’s continued dependence on her and to her calming influence, which would have been necessary in the middle of a boisterous crowd.
And the Palm Branches?
Well, it wasn’t just palms, assuming Christianity Stack Exchange is accurate. People also spread their cloaks as a sign of submission. Absent the ability to lay down a cloak, they cut palm, willow, and maple branches to lay in Jesus’ path, as they shouted, “Hosanna”.* These actions mirrored those in the Jewish festival of Sukkoth. Remember the setting. Jesus was coming into Jerusalem as King of the Jews. The crowd was excited, and they were creating the same kind of atmosphere that celebrities experience on the red carpet at the Oscars. *The festival of Sukkoth incorporated Psalm 118, which includes, “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord.” Hosanna is Hebrew for “save us”.
What drew such sizable crowds? Jesus arrived during Passover week, so many pilgrims were already in Jerusalem. A great number of them believed Jesus represented their deliverance from Roman rule. Some mistakenly thought he would overthrow the government, and that hope would have certainly amped up the excitement level. But Jesus’ plans had eternal implications rather than temporal and material. Did His followers realize that? Probably not.
What Else and What Now?
Well, multitudes are still a thing around Easter. Mostly Easter, not Palm Sunday, but many people who don’t regularly gather with a home church are drawn to attend services during this season. Is it due to the expectation of special music or the anonymity guaranteed by large numbers? I don’t have the answer to that one.
Some denominations still incorporate palm branches into Palm Sunday services. Congregants who have the skill might fold those palms into crosses, something I never mastered. Pastors recount Jesus’ steps in that fateful week leading to the crucifixion, and music ministers lead congregations to sing hymns with Hosanna themes. I’m not sure, however, that the majority of today’s believers look at palms or listen to sermons and thoughtfully consider Jesus’ perspective or the crowd’s euphoria on that long-ago Passover. Do I think about what Jesus was experiencing as he entered the city, surrounded by adoring followers? If I view this with a human lens, which is all I’ve got, the validation from the masses had to be exhilarating. However, He knew what was in store, and He must have dreaded the coming week, even considering the plot twist.
Also, think about the anticipation felt by those folks who were cheering Jesus on and their anticipation of a welcome change in their lives. They didn’t understand what would happen after that. The people who made the journey to Jerusalem during that Passover season were on the right track, but they didn’t know that the events of the next seven days would bring their highs down to the depths of despair.
I know the story. I’ve heard it dozens of times. Perhaps I need to listen.
I learned that the donkey Christ rode had never been ridden before. That donkeys are a sign of humility. Very interesting.
I like the scripture indicating the donkey showed humility which is a disappearing gift. A white horse would have shown him as a proud man. This much more than I gave have spent time on. So glad this was your blog. I enjoyed it.