This Sunday, Christians across the world will celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem in a holiday known as Palm Sunday.
John 12:12-13 reads: “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”
What a scene this must have been! Christ on a donkey, traveling through town as people cried out “hosanna” and waved palm branches.
Palm branches are representative of victory. The people were crying “save us” and declaring victory. Their desire was for Jesus to save them from Roman tyranny and give them a physical victory over the oppressive climate of the day.
However, soon the scene of joy would be replaced with anger and sorrow as Jesus is charged to death and crucified. Although now, no palms and shouts of “hosanna” — those have been replaced with whip lashes and shouts of “crucify Him!”
This too is a scene of victory. This is the point where Christ does indeed save us.
The sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the shedding of His blood is what saves us from the wages of sin and death (Romans 6:23). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Because of this, we too can wave palms. We could use a branch and leaves, and some churches hand out palms on Palm Sunday; but we could actually wave palms every day.
How? We have an appendage at the end of our arms called a hand. The core of that hand is called a PALM.
We can wave our hands in victory every day that we have received the salvation of Jesus if we have called Him Lord of our life!
Of course, those palms could as be used to “wave Him off”. We mistakenly think that we will always have an opportunity later or perhaps that there will be a more convenient time to be His saved one.
Revelation 3:20 states “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Today is the day of salvation! Don’t wave off the Lord — invite Him to come in, He is knocking.
This Sunday may Christians around the world lift our hands in victory and wave our palms in celebration of Christ our Lord and may you join in the celebration!
Angel Boll serves with her husband, Bishop Rich Boll, as pastors of the Wilmington Church of God.
This weekly column is provided to the News Journal on a monthly rotation basis by members of the Wilmington Area Ministerial Association.
