[Lk.
19:28-40; Is. 50:4-7; Phil. 2:6-11; Lk. 22:14-23:56]
Today
we celebrate Palm Sunday - The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The
contemporaries of Jesus were well aware of the traditions of the royal entry.
Triumph, was a ritual procession that was the
highest honour bestowed upon a victorious general in the
ancient Roman Republic; it was the summit of a Roman aristocrat's career. In many ancient kingdoms the kings held processions to demonstrate their power and to declare the assumption of power. Sometimes Kings held processions after their victory over the enemy. On the day of his triumph, the general wore a crown of laurel and the all-purple, gold-embroidered triumphal picta ("painted" toga), regalia that identified him as near-divine or near-kingly, and even was known to paint his face red. He rode in a four-horse chariot through the streets of Rome in unarmed procession with his army, captives, and the spoils of his war.
ancient Roman Republic; it was the summit of a Roman aristocrat's career. In many ancient kingdoms the kings held processions to demonstrate their power and to declare the assumption of power. Sometimes Kings held processions after their victory over the enemy. On the day of his triumph, the general wore a crown of laurel and the all-purple, gold-embroidered triumphal picta ("painted" toga), regalia that identified him as near-divine or near-kingly, and even was known to paint his face red. He rode in a four-horse chariot through the streets of Rome in unarmed procession with his army, captives, and the spoils of his war.
The contemporaries of Jesus were waiting for a long time to welcome a
King, who would free them from slavery and establish a new kingdom.
Through the History of Israel there rose a leader whenever they were in need.
These leaders fed them with supernatural food like Moses did by Getting Manna
for the starving people during exile. They were wise and their wisdom was
unmatched like that of the Wisdom of Solomon. They were able to defend the
people against their enemies like Samson. Stories of their heroes were
fresh and alive among the Israelites. In Jesus they found all these
qualities. He fed the hungry miraculously. He drove out demons and they fled in
his presence. He raised the dead from the dead. With his wise answers he silenced
his enemies. He showed compassion to the weak and the suffering. So they
had no doubt that He was the promised King.
But Jesus entered Jerusalem, not in a royal chariot
drawn by horses, but on a young ass, covered, not with rich cloths, but with
the well-worn robes of the disciples. In this way, as the Evangelists John and
Matthew tell us, the sayings of the Prophets were fulfilled: Tell the daughter
of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and
on a colt, the foal of an ass (Matt. 21:5).
Christian theologians believe that the symbolism is captured
prophetically in the Old Testament: Zechariah 9:9 "The Coming of
Zion's King – See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and
riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey", which is quoted in
the Gospels. It suggests that Jesus was declaring he was the King of
Israel, to the anger of the Sanhedrin.
As the Saviour rode down the road toward the capital city, two throngs
of people converged upon him – a massive crowd coming out of the city; another
group following him (Mt. 21:9; Mk. 11:9). These were mostly disciples who had
been awed by the effect of the Lord's miracles – especially the recent
resurrection of Lazarus (Lk. 19:37; Jn. 12:17).
Some "paved" the road with their garments; others with layers
of leaves, at least some of which were from palm trees (Jn. 12:13), hence the
expression "Palm Sunday." Spreading garments before a dignitary was a
symbol of submission (see 2 Kgs. 9:13). Palm branches were employed also as
token of victory (Suetonius, Caligula, 32). Some Jewish coins
from the first century had palm leaf engravings with the accompanying
inscription, "the redemption of Zion." Note the "palm"
symbolism that is portrayed in the book of Revelation (7:9). The Jewish
disciples doubtless were expressing the hope that Jesus would be the one to
lead them to victory over their oppressor (Rome).
But the meek and humble entry of Jesus Christ in to
Jerusalem was a symbol of peace and humility, for it represented a complete
contrast to the triumphal processions of kings at that time. The way in which
Jesus entered Jerusalem showed that His Kingdom was not of this world.
Jesus's message was to preach the Kingdom of God. This is the
gospel He brought: the good news to all men. Mankind sees no need for change of
government. People believe that having the liberty to do what they want means
they are truly free. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Second, it will have the power to enforce God's law. We live in a
society where the "law is slacked" (Habakkuk 1:4). Even human law is
largely unenforced. Many people make a living out of finding loopholes in the
law. But it won't be that way in God's Kingdom. That Kingdom will come with
power (Mark 9:1). At the same time, God's government will display true,
outgoing concern for the good and well-being of its subjects.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem a crowd followed him with great hope and
trust in Him. Today we follow Jesus with the same hope and trust as members of
His kingdom. Palm Sunday reminds us of our role as the soldiers of Jesus
to establish his kingdom of peace.
History has many inspiring incidents of sacrifice of
soldiers. Trapped in a trench, under heavy machine gun fire during a
battle in France in July 1918, Pvt. Nicholas Palermo decided to sacrifice his
own life to save others.
Facing three machine gun teams, Palermo left the
trench, and was able to take out the German soldiers manning two of the guns
before being killed — an action that later rewarded him with the Silver Star
for valor during battle.
"He decides on his own and goes over the top
at the German machine guns," said Palermo's nephew, also named Nicholas
Palermo, of North Haven. "He wipes out one of the machine guns as a hail
of bullets goes by. He goes to the second, more hail of bullets goes by and he
gets hit a couple times, but knocks that one out. He goes for a third, and
almost puts it out of operation, but too many bullets hit him and he got
killed."
Lying about his age, Palermo enlisted at 16 and was
assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division.
He was only 18 when he died.
We are the soldiers of Jesus Kingdom. Now it is our
turn to do everything that we can to the establishment of His Kingdom.
Satish