Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday celebrated on the Sunday before Easter, marking the beginning of Holy Week. It commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where people welcomed him by waving palm branches and laying them on the ground in his path. Here are some Palm Sunday verses to reflect on during this special day.
"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
This verse comes from Matthew 21:9, where the crowds shouted these words as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. "Hosanna" means "save us" or "help us," and this verse expresses the people's hope that Jesus would be their savior.
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
This verse, also from Luke 19:38, shows the people's recognition of Jesus as a king. They believed that he had come to establish a new kingdom, and they welcomed him with open arms.
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
This verse, from Psalm 118:22-23, was later applied to Jesus by the early Christians. It suggests that Jesus was not accepted by the religious leaders of his time, but he would become the foundation of a new spiritual structure.
"My kingdom is not of this world."
Jesus said this to Pilate in John 18:36, explaining that his kingdom was not a political one but a spiritual one. He came to offer salvation to all people, not to establish a worldly empire.
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
This verse, from Luke 22:42, shows Jesus' willingness to submit to God's will, even if it meant suffering and death. It is a powerful reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.
"It is finished."
These words, from John 19:30, were Jesus' last before he died on the cross. They signify the completion of his work on earth, the fulfillment of God's plan for salvation.
"He has risen! He is not here."
These words, from Mark 16:6, announce the most important event in Christian history: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. They signify that death has been defeated, and that new life is possible through faith in Jesus.
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
This verse, from John 20:29, is Jesus' response to Thomas, who doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. It affirms the importance of faith in Jesus, even when we cannot see him with our own eyes.
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
This verse, from Mark 16:15, is known as the Great Commission. It is a call to all Christians to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we meet, so that they too may experience the love and grace of God.
As we celebrate Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, let us reflect on these verses and on the life and teachings of Jesus. May we be inspired to follow his example and to share his message of hope and salvation with the world.