A look at the role of Palm Sunday in Christianity
Every year, the Sunday before Easter holds a special significance to Christians throughout the world. Commonly referred to as “Palm Sunday,” this day represents the beginning of the most important week for mankind.
“We celebrate the triumphal entry of the Christ into Jerusalem. This was the beginning of the most holy week for Christians,” said Father Clarence Sandoval, the pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Although different groups of Christians celebrate this day differently, each one remembers the importance of this day.
“The day is something unique,” said Douglass Reeder, an LDS Institute instructor on early Christian history. “This day marked the beginning of the end. The end of ours and his mortal life. Christ’s resurrection makes it possible for everyone to have immortal life.”
The day that Christ entered into the gates of the Jerusalem provides interesting insight into the thoughts and minds of the people at the time.
When Jesus entered the city, he rode upon the back of a colt, which caused people throughout the procession to shout “Hosanna.” This event fulfilled ancient scripture when Zechariah, an Old Testament prophet, pronounced,
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass,” Zechariah 9:9.
The people, so exuberant that this day had come, began to cut leafs from the palm trees above and lay them across the street. Some also laid their coats, as well.
“The gospels report that multitudes of people went out to meet the Christ and praise his entry.
By the end of the week, there were very few indeed who stood by him,” Reeder said. “The people had misunderstood Jesus’ mission and felt that he was supposed to end Roman rule and bring peace to the Jews.
As Christians celebrate this day, many try to experience what those of Christ’s day did.
The Catholic church celebrates by having a blessing on palm branches. Then the members begin a procession from a separate location, which ends at the sanctuary where the Mass is held, Sandoval said.
“We celebrate the coming of our savior into Jerusalem, where he will become the new King. We want our members to know and experience that. That’s why we have our procession,” he said.
Historically, there has been little celebration of the event among the early Christian church, but the event has grown over the centuries.
According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian church, “A very elaborate rite for the blessing of the palms developed during the early Middle Ages, similar in structure to the mass.”
For those who celebrate this day and the week that follows, the scriptures teach of the result of his entry.
“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said,” Matthew 28:5-6.
-nebutler@cc.usu.edu