A Donkey, Hosanna, and a Palm Branch

The real meaning behind the pomp of Palm Sunday

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey's colt!”

His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
John 12:12-16 (ESV)

Growing up in the church I loved Palm Sunday. The Sunday before Easter was such a celebratory day. We’d sing “Crown Him with Many Crowns” and the children would march down the aisle waving paper palm branches they’d made the week before, just like the people waved real palm branches when Jesus entered Jerusalem. It was like being in a parade! People love to wave at floats in a parade, and sometimes they wave flags. Is that what this was all about?

Or is it possible there was more going on that day? Is it possible that the palm branches and the cries of “Hosanna” had more meaning than an ancient parade? Jesus was always intentional in His ministry, so His “triumphal entry” of Jerusalem must have been intentional too.

And why was it like a parade when Jesus rode in on a meager donkey? Just a party of 13, walking into a city shouldn’t prompt such festivities…should it? There were no fancy floats, no marching bands. There had been no advertising, hoping to draw a great crowd. What made the people line the streets in celebration that day?

When we think of a royal procession, we think of pomp and grandeur. Majestic horses and ornate carriages, a line of fanfare declaring their approach. Why would Jesus choose to ride in on a donkey? And why would the people come out to see?

While today the donkey is viewed as a lowly beast of burden, in the ancient near east it was well known that a king would enter a city on a horse if he came to make war, but that he would ride a donkey if he came in peace. It was also customary for a king to ride into the capital city on a donkey as a sort of coronation ceremony.

…the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
1 Kings 1:33

Upon hearing that Adonijah had declared himself king, David corrected the situation by sending Solomon, whom he had already decided to appoint as the next king, into Jerusalem as an official coronation. He directed that Solomon should ride David’s own mule. Mules are a donkey-horse cross, which are generally used for the same purpose as donkeys. Solomon riding David’s mule into Jerusalem was the most clear way for David to declare him to be the next king.

Over 500 years before Jesus rode into Jerusalem, Zechariah prophesied about the event.

Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.
Zechariah 9:9

By riding into Jerusalem on a young donkey, Jesus was declaring His kingship.

When the people saw Him, they knew what it meant. They knew the custom of a king riding into the city on a donkey. They were familiar with Zechariah’s prophecy. And they had seen Jesus’ miracles and heard Him teach. So they lined the streets to catch a glimpse of Him! It was clear to them that He was the long-expected King, the Messiah.

Affirming this belief, they waved palm branches, and threw them in the road to pave the way for the procession.

Palm branches had long been a symbol of victory and of the peace victory would bring. As far back as the ancient Greeks, palm branches were given to athletic winners. In Rome any victory was celebrated by displaying palm branches - whether the palm-adorned toga of victorious warriors, or the palms laid out on the porch of a lawyer who had won in court.

The root of the word “palm” is closely related to that of Phoenix, a mythical bird that symbolizes rebirth and immortality. Thus the palm branch also carries the additional meaning of immortality, a fitting symbol for the One who offers eternal life!

By breaking off palm branches, waving them, and paving the street with them, the people were acknowledging that Jesus came as King.

The people’s own cries affirmed that they were, in fact, recognizing Jesus’ kingship:

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” John 12:13

We often think of “hosanna” as being the same as “hallelujah,” a joyous expression of praise. However, hosanna comes from the words “yasha”, which means deliver or save, and “anna” which means to beg or plead. So hosanna is a cry for help. The people, recognizing that Jesus was the Messiah, were literally calling out to Him to save them.

Those who had been waiting for generations for the Messiah were understandably excited to see Him finally arrive as King and Saviour. But what He offered was far greater than what they had been longing for. They wanted Him to save them from the oppressive Roman rule, but He came to save them from an eternity of torment by taking the punishment for their sins and offering eternal life with Him.

And He offers the same thing to us today. This is why we call Him the King of kings. He is more than the king of a nation, protecting his people from oppression. He is the King of all creation and offers to save all who accept Him from the punishment we deserve.

If you have ever done anything wrong (hint: we all have) you need Jesus to save you from the punishment you (and all of us) deserve - an eternity of torment. The best news is that this salvation is absolutely free.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:8-10

This Sunday, celebrate the King of Kings! No one knew the reality He faced when He entered Jerusalem that day. But He knew. And He came anyway. Willingly. Because of His great love for you. What a Saviour!

Be sure to attend church this Easter to hear more about what Jesus did for you so long ago. If you’re not sure how to accept this gift of salvation, talk to the pastor or one of the leaders in your church. If you don’t have someone local to talk to, feel free to message me.

Keep Seeking the Kingdom!

Heather Penner