This day… a battle was won with eternal victory!
The Israelites, out of their hardness of heart, asked for a king. So, the idea of a king started way back, after the exodus, when they asked for a king – “like other nations”, instead of God’s reign.
God agreed and granted them their wish by giving them Saul as their first king (1 Samuel 8-10).
However, God warned them well before anointing Saul, that the king would not be a softie, and that he would be – drafting their children, seizing their land, taxing heavily and that they would even lose their freedom (1 Samuel 8:10-18).
But guess what, they still wanted a king!
The same pattern is observed on Palm Sunday, a week before Jesus was to be crucified. A large crowd spread their cloaks and branches (palm branches) on the road, treating Jesus with royal honors. They shouted – “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” – Matthew 21:9 NKJV The term “Hosanna” translates to “save us now,” reflecting the people’s plea for liberation.
But why the palm branches?
Nearly two centuries earlier, Israel suffered oppression under the Seleucid Empire until a rebel leader named Judas Maccabues lead a successful revolt, restoring Jerusalem and the temple, a victory still celebrated today during Hanukkah. When Maccabeus triumphantly entered Jerusalem in 164 BC, crowds sang praises and waved palm branches.
So, waving palm branches (John 12:13) and laying garments on the ground (Matt. 21:8-9) expressed hope for victory over evil.
Therefore, Jesus was receiving a royal welcome from crowds who expected a violent, sword-wielding ruler of old.
But on the contrary, Jesus came in as a humble servant, spreading the good news about an everlasting, God’s kingdom, in which the greatest person is the weakest – the one who loves and serves the poor. And that, one responds to the kingdom by loving their enemies, forgiving and praying for them.
This was an upside down kingdom.
Jesus proved that there is no such thing as a life-saving sword. But there is life-saving love.
For this reason, Jesus’ crucifixion is depicted as his enthronement as the “King of the Jews”
And when He rose again the third day from the grave, this day, The Easter or The Resurrection Day, He displayed an unexpected victory over “death itself”, giving us the gift of eternal life with Him.
So this day, The Easter, we don’t just remember that “He is risen, indeed!” but also, that He has claimed victory in an unexpected way… by loving and laying His life for us!
Happy Resurrection Day!
Image & Content Reference: The Bible Project
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