Palm Sunday

Judas’ conquest of Jerusalem led to the purification of the Temple and the creation of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Now hold on to that image: Judas liberated the holy city from foreigners who occupied Jerusalem and who desecrated the holy sites. Judas, upon entering the city, took it upon himself to act as High Priest and re-consecrated the holy sites and the Temple.

In the year 142, Judas’ brother Simon was leading the rebellion. Antiochus had been murdered. And the new king of Syria was willing to make peace. Simon was granted the titles of High Priest and Prince of Jerusalem. Simon’s Princedom would quickly transform into a kingdom, marking the creation of an independent Jewish kingdom, which had not existed since the Babylonian conquest of 586. This independent nation would be short-lived, lasting only until the Romans moved into the region in 66 B.C. Nevertheless, when the new king announced peace with Simon:

On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred and seventy-first year, the Jews entered it with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel. (I Maccabees 13:51)

Now hold on to that image: Simon, the leader of the revolt, established peace and acted as both High Priest and King in Jerusalem.

Now take all of those images that you have been holding and consider this:

They brought the donkey colt to Jesus and they draped their coats on it and Jesus sat on it. Then a bunch of people threw their coats onto the road, and others cut leafy branches from the surrounding fields and threw them on the road. Those who walked in front of Jesus and those who followed him shouted out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming of our father David’s kingdom! Hosanna highest heaven!”

This is an image that has been acted and re-acted throughout Jewish history. Every Jew in Jerusalem who knew history and who knew the Scriptures understood. A King, like wise Solomon was riding a donkey on the way to his coronation; a King who would destroy the Enemy of God’s people was having coats thrown on the ground before him; a King, humble, yet mighty, was about to establish peace and create a covenant through blood; a King, was coming to conquer the oppressors and rededicate that Temple; a King, who was also a High Priest, was coming to establish peace.

Palm Sunday marks the Triumphal entry of Jesus as King of Israel into Jerusalem. But his coming coronation will be at the hands of the Romans: he will be crowned with thorns, beaten with a reed that was used to mock a king’s scepter. His throne will be a cross. His people who cheer for him as King of Israel this day, will shout for his crucifixion a few days later. This is how the covenant by blood will be established. This is how peace will be established. This is how the oppressor will be conquered. This is how the Enemy of God’s people will be undone. This is how the King will reign in wisdom. There is no other way.