Palm Sunday is a celebration of honoring Jesus Christ’s victorious entry into Jerusalem. While this was a joyful, special occasion for his followers, this event took place towards the end of his days on Earth before being crucified. Palm Sunday or the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is outlined in Matthew 21:1-11.
The Triumphal Entry
21 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Following this day is what we call “Passion Week”, Holy Week, or the last week of Lent where we see the cornerstone event is Jesus’ life that lead up to His death and resurrection. My church created this Passion Week Reading Guide that will lead you on a daily journey of Christ’s last week on earth, outlining His love for The Church (for you and I), His zeal for His Father’s House, and His conquering of death, hell, and the grave! Check out this guide to enrich your Easter / Passover/Resurrection Sunday experience.
Reading guide courtesy of Evangel Church in Columbus, GA.