Read John 12:12-19.
In the ancient world, the palm was a symbol of peace that comes through victory.
Ancient Israel embraced the palm as a national symbol, remembering their days as a world power and anticipating the day when God would restore them to prominence. And it had fresh significance in Jesus’ day — in religious objection to the “graven image” of Tiberias Caesar on the Herod Antipas coin, the people of Israel had had the coins restamped with this image of the palm branch.
So when John tells us that “they took branches of palm trees” (John 12:13), shouting messianic slogans (Psalm 118:25-26), we shouldn’t picture peaceful people blandly cheering at an impromptu parade. These people are angry. They’re tired of oppression. Picture angry nationalists grabbing giant flags to crown a new king. Picture something like January 6 (at least in spirit).
But Jesus arrives, not on a warhorse, but on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). And he isn’t exulting in their zeal. He’s weeping because they don’t understand what kind of king he is (Luke 19:41).
His disciples didn’t get it either (Mark 10:35-45). After Jesus’ resurrection, as he was about to ascend into heaven, they were still hoping Jesus will restore Israel to power (Acts 1:6).
Jesus is king. But his kingdom was launched through his own suffering and death.
Because this is how he became king, his kingdom is eternal, unshakeable (Hebrews 12:28). And it stretches across the entire world, wherever his disciples live in allegiance to him. That’s why we make disciples still. And that’s what we’ll see in heaven:
“Behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”
Revelation 7:9
King Jesus,
I wave my palm branch today, shouting “Hosanna! Save us!”
I want you to be king of my whole life.
I want to live in complete confidence and total allegiance to you alone.
I confess that I often want you to serve my agenda, my ambitions. Forgive me.
Today I surrender myself to you.
By my Lord, and my Savior.
Amen.
Emmanuel Reformed Church 