This Is Jesus

The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in pre-Christian times. The Romans rewarded champions of the games and celebrated military successes with palm branches. The Jews followed a similar tradition of carrying palm branches during festive times. Early on in the history of the Christian church Palm Sunday celebrations have involved the waving of palm branches.

Matthew 21:8-9 says that as Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, “a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest!’”

Early Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul. In Christian art, martyrs were usually shown holding a palm branch, representing the victory of spirit over flesh. It was widely believed that a picture of a palm on a tomb meant that a martyr was buried there. 

With this in mind note Revelation 7:9-10. “After 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 in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were 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.’” The palm branch being held by the Christians in heaven is the sign of spiritual victory in the presence of Christ.

As the people covered the road before Jesus with palm branches in Matthew 21:8-9, note the direction this celebration turns in verses 10-11: “And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’ So the multitudes said, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’” Notice the question: “Who is this?” And the answer: “This is Jesus.”

This is precisely the question Jesus proposed to His disciples in Matthew 16:13-16. “Who do men say that…I am?” (v. 13). The answers are varied and interesting: “John the Baptist…Elijah…Jeremiah…one of the prophets” (v. 14). Then He asked again, “But who do you say that I am?” (v. 15). And Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16).

Following the transfiguration, Luke tells us, “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). From this time on Jesus headed straight for Jerusalem to fulfill His mission. He headed straight toward calvary to die for our sin and rise again. As He did so, the people began to wonder if perhaps now was the time He would set Himself up as King? So the people were excited as He came again to Jerusalem.

In Matthew 21, as He approached the city He sent a couple of His disciples ahead to secure a colt for Him to ride, along with a donkey (vs. 1-3). The two disciples did as Jesus requested (v. 6) and the owners of the donkey and colt did just as Jesus said they would (v. 3). It seems that people were ready and willing to help. Then Jesus road the colt into Jerusalem, weeping as He saw the city: “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41).

The multitude cried and sang, “Hosanna!” (Matt. 21:9), which means “save now!” They spread their garments on the road before Him (v. 8a), as if receiving a king home. They used palm branches as well (v. 8b). It is a picture of a conquering king returning home in victory. And this is how we are introduced to Jesus. "This is  Jesus." He is our king and our Lord. He is our conquering Savior. He came for this purpose. He came to die on the cross and to rise again. He came to be our Savior. Amen.