What is Palm Sunday and what does Palm Sunday have to do with Holy/Passion Week Historically? Religious Studies Educator, Mr. K provides a historical look at how Jesus' triumphal entrance into Jerusalem led to his arrest, trial, and execution.

The Christian celebration of Palm Sunday is the commemoration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and marks the beginning of what is called “Passion week” -- the week Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and crucified.

What many Christians don’t realize while they wave their palms at the start of that annual Sunday Mass is that what they are reenacting the likely cause for Jesus’ execution. Let me explain:

In Jewish tradition there were two occasions when the waving of palm branches were customary -- the Feast of Tabernacles, which occurred in the fall, and during a Parousia -- the triumphal return of a king or military leader. Since the gospels point out that Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem took place during the Passover feast, in the spring, the waving of palm branches for him falls into this Parousia category. And therein lies the problem for Jesus.

Parousias in the Bible contain a standard cluster of motifs:
approach of the king, public acclamation/celebration (sometimes with song), entrance into city, and some form of cultic activity (which included the cleansing of cultic pollution).

Jesus fulfills all of these motifs. Depending on which gospel you look at, Jesus approaches Jerusalem riding either a young horse or a donkey -- or in the case of Matthew -- both at the same time! The horse was the usual war animal, hence a symbol of power and might. The donkey was a draft animal used to carry persons and goods. Zech 9:9 indicates that for a king to ride on an donkey was “humble”, that is unbefitting the kingly status. If Jesus was indeed riding a donkey, it would be yet another way he flipped conventional symbols of power and weakness.

The laying of palm branches and clothes at the feet of the colt signifies a “red carpet” treatment for “the one who comes in the name of the Lord”. This title is another name for the Son of David -- the long anticipated messiah. Messiah of course is Hebrew for king.

The Aramaic word “Hosanna” proclaimed by the crowds means “save us!” or rescue us!” In other words -- The crowds shout “king, save us!” (But they weren’t referring to sin)

This would have been quite an alarming scene to both Roman and Jewish officials for Judea was a Roman Occupied Province. In other words, the people were under the authority of the Roman Emperor and any attempt to appoint their own king would have been seen as Treason.

The Jews in Judea also weren’t too fond of “outsiders” and here Jesus is identified as being from “Galilee.” The Sadducees, that is the Temple officials, also had a gentlemen’s agreement with Rome that pretty much said that as long as they help keep the masses in line, they would be able to maintain their wealth and status. Failure to do so could result in the blood and destruction that the High Priest Caiaphas indicates in the Gospel of John.

What would’ve been most concerning would’ve been the timing of this parade -- that it was that the week of Passover -- the Jewish holiday that commemorates liberation from slavery under a foreign rule. During this week in particular soldiers would’ve been on edge -- and believe me -- the officials were watching.

Whom Jesus entered with didn’t help relieve tensions either. Zealot rebellions were quite common during the first century and at least one of his apostles was a known Zealot → you know, the people who wanted to overthrow Roman occupation of YHWH’s land.

Then, As if the parade and whom he associated with didn’t attract enough political attention, what Jesus does next further propels the situation. First, He kills a tree. Well, only in Mark and Matthew. And then he goes directly into the temple and drives out the money lenders by overturning the tables. This causes quite a ruckus and you can rest assured, is an arrestable offence, particularly during this volatile week when thousands of Jews pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

After disturbing the temple, Jesus then preaches about tearing it down and then goes into eschatological sermons about the end of his life, the end of the world, etc.... In the eyes of public officials -- Jesus is a security threat and from that point on, he’s a marked man. The Jewish officials seek a way to arrest Jesus away from the crowds -- Lord knows you can’t do that in front of the people who just through him a king’s parade so they arrange a scheme with Judas to subdue him while he’ out of the public eyes. This of course takes place on Thursday night in the Garden of Gethsemane....

Watch the video for the rest!

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