Palm Sunday Thoughts

/

No wonder I’m drawn to palm trees! It’s not just the vacay vibe my Minnesota/ Saskatchewan prairie girl craves, it’s much deeper than that.


In my faith tradition, palm leaves symbolize victory (along with peace/ wholeness & eternal life.) I waved them in Sunday school on Palm Sunday as a little girl without knowing fully what it meant- but it was fun to jump around and have fun!

Palm leaves are seen throughout the Bible, not just on that first Palm Sunday where Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey while people waved palm branches (Matthew 21:1-11) 30AD

The crowds at the city gate cheering truly didn’t know that Jesus was about to be betrayed, tortured and become the ultimate sacrifice for humanity and our waywardness. His suffering & atonement was a part of Gods sovereign plan for us all.


Other places in scripture to note where palm branches were used:

  • Deborah the prophetess judged Israel while sitting under palm tree branches to bring deliverance (Judges 4:5) 1200BC- King Solomons Temple carvings featured palm leaves (1 Kings 6:29) 958 BC

  • “Feast of tabernacles” celebrating release from slavery in Egypt uses palm leaves (Leviticus 23:40-43)

  • To me, the most profound picture I see in this study of palm leaves is the prophetic/ apocalyptic scripture depicting a vision of the end of days after what the Bible calls the “Great tribulation”. God warns us and encourages us throughout His word.

  • So in the very last book of the Bible, in Revelation 7:9 we see palm branches again (after the warning to the churches, describing the heavenly throne room of God, the “7 seals” of God and before describing the “7 trumpets” etc.“…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 before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”

    If you are struggling to live a life of “victory”, may Jesus lead you home. How fascinating that there is a “multitude from every nation” throughout the ages cheering us on “in Christ” from heaven.