Here are some Palm Sunday Bible verses to help you reflect as we approach Easter. Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week, a key moment in the Passion story and a time of both jubilation and contemplation. In this blog, we look at scriptures relating directly to the account of Palm Sunday and some additional verses to guide our reflections.
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter weekend and commemorates Jesusâ entry into Jerusalem. Christ is treated with royal reverence in these accounts, but He knows that He will soon be put to death. However, we can still use this time to acknowledge and celebrate Christ as King and the fact that He is coming again. Palm Sunday is typically seen as the beginning of Holy Week and a time of contemplation in the run up to Easter as we think about Jesusâs sacrifice and the coming resurrection.
The Gospel accounts of Jesusâ entry into Jerusalem are all very similar. Before entering the holy city, He asks His disciples to get Him a colt to ride on. In Mark 11:2-3 Jesus says, âGo to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, âWhy are you doing this?â say, âThe Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.ââ
A crowd welcomes Jesus as he rides in on the colt. Matthewâs account says, âA very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.â Matthew 21:8Luke 19:36 also says âpeople spread their cloaks on the roadâ and Johnâs account specifically references the palm branches saying in John 12:12-13, âThe next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him.â
Also appearing in all four Gospels is the crowd and His disciples praising Him as Jesus enters the city. Each account uses variations on the same words. Matthew 21:9-11 says, âthe crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest heaven!'Â When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'â We can also experience the mystery and majesty of Jesus today. We might not fully understand why this humble King chose to arrive riding on an animal no bigger than a donkey, but we know He is worthy of our praise.
What is even more exciting about these gospel accounts is that they confirm prophecies from earlier scriptures. As it says in Matthew 21:4-5, Jesus riding on a colt took place to fulfil what was spoken by a prophet, saying, "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" This is a direct reference to a passage in Zechariah 9:9 which says, âRejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.â The people of Jerusalem were waiting for a coming king who would restore all things. Jesus did this to show that he was the King they had been waiting for, although many did not believe Him.
But many others were excited and laid branches from leafy trees, such as the palm tree. This was because of the festival of Tabernacles, spoken of in Leviticus 23:33-44. This was a sacred celebration to God that took place on the 15th day of the seventh month and took place over seven days. The first day, a Sabbath day, would be celebrated with branches from a palm tree. The palm branches are referenced later in the Bible in Revelation 7:9-10 when Jesus is seated in glory. âAfter this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'â This is an incredible image of praise and adoration before Christ, who is in His rightful place. We, too, can look forward to worshipping God in this way during Holy Week.
If you are looking for some Palm Sunday Bible verses to accompany you in your worship, reflection, or contemplation, then here are some helpful ones. They are all about praising and worshipping God for who He is. Praising Him for what Heâs done and for the person of Jesus who came to earth in human form.
This is Godâs promise about Jesus Christ in the Psalms. Although rejected, Jesus has become the cornerstone on which we build our lives. âThe stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.â
This is a reminder that we should always rejoice, for God is good. No matter what comes our way we can rejoice that the Lord is here. âRejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!â
Jesus knew what lay before Him on that day. Christians know whatâs coming too as we approach Easter each year. Yet even in the darker times we can rejoice because these are times when character is strengthened, and we step towards a glorious inheritance. âNot only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
âBlessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!â âPeace in heaven and glory in the highest!â
This next verse is well-known and loved and for good reason. Jesus was sent ânot to condemnâ but âto save the worldâ. âFor God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.â Have a great Palm Sunday celebration and a peaceful and spirit filled Holy Week. If you need a companion for your devotionals and quiet times this week you should check out the Glorify app, which has daily Bible readings and devotionals just for you.
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