A Darker Palm Sunday

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. We typically think of it as a day of triumph. Indeed, most Bibles include this heading before the key passages that describe the event: “The Triumphal Entry.” However, when you look at the story a little more closely, you may be surprised to find darker details. It’s not quite the victorious moment we assume it to be.

While it is true that crowds laud Jesus as “the King who comes in the name of the LORD,” it is also true that the majority within the city of Jerusalem do not know Him. In fact, when Matthew writes his account, he describes Jerusalem’s reaction like this: “And when [Jesus] had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (Matthew 21:10). The inhabitants of the city had to ask other people the identify of their own King.

If you consider the prophetic history and destiny of Jerusalem, this ought to be a shocking moment. According to scripture, Jerusalem is the city from which God will rule the nations through His appointed King, Jesus (see Psalm 2). Jerusalem is the city to which the nations will flow as they seek wisdom and counsel from God (see Isaiah 2). However, the city from which God will flood the earth with glory and to which the nation will ascend in worship––that city does not recognize her own King when He comes. According to John’s gospel, it was the people who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead who actually praised Him as He entered the city. Those people would have primarily been from Bethany–not Jerusalem (compare John 12:1 and 12:17).

This explains why Jesus weeps as He rides toward Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Though He receives the praises from Bethany, His destiny is to be enthroned in Jerusalem. However, the city is unprepared to receive Him as King. Perhaps, this is why Jesus not only enters the city, but He also visits the Temple and drives out those who bought and sold, re-establishing it as a house of prayer. He judges one activity and establishes another. He judges the merchandise-activity that left Jerusalem unprepared. He establishes prayer as the activity that will prepare the way for His return as King.

What application does this have for each of us?

It has enormous, multi-faceted application. Let me identify just one key point, though: the necessity of prayer. It’s easy to assume that when God acts we’ll be able to “jump in.” When God moves, we’ll be able to enjoy the movement and receive the benefits. However, without prayer, we could find ourselves in the same condition as Jerusalem at the “triumphal entry.” We could find ourselves calloused through carnal activity rather than sensitive, alert, and aware through prayer. Therefore, this Easter season, may each of us find a resurgence of prayer in our lives. May we quiet the noise around us, and allow the Holy Spirit to draw us closer to God’s heart as we prepare the way for Jesus the King.