It starts with a donkey. Not a warhorse, not a golden chariot, and definitely not a motorcade with tinted windows. Just a borrowed colt and a dusty road leading into Jerusalem. If you’re looking for a message for Palm Sunday, you have to start with that specific, almost awkward contrast. It was a protest as much as it was a parade. While the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate was likely entering the city from the west with a terrifying display of imperial cavalry and iron-clad soldiers, Jesus was coming in from the east on a pack animal.
The crowd went wild. They cut branches. They threw their clothes on the dirt.
But here is the thing people usually miss: the crowd was cheering for a version of Jesus that didn't actually exist. They wanted a political liberator who would crack Roman skulls. When he didn't do that, the "Hosannas" turned into "Crucify him" in less than a week. That’s a heavy pivot. Honestly, it’s the most human part of the whole story. We love a winner until they don't win the way we expected them to.
The Messy Reality of the First Palm Sunday
History tells us that Jerusalem during Passover was a powder keg. According to the late scholar Marcus Borg and co-author John Dominic Crossan in The Last Week, there were two processions entering Jerusalem that day. One was a show of "Peace through Victory"—the Roman way. The other, led by Jesus, was "Peace through Justice."
When you sit down to craft or listen to a message for Palm Sunday, you're really looking at a choice between two types of power. Do we value the power that dominates, or the power that serves? It’s easy to pick the "servant" option in a church pew, but it’s a lot harder when you’re stuck in traffic or dealing with a passive-aggressive boss.
The palms weren't just pretty decorations. They were nationalistic symbols. In the Maccabean revolt roughly 200 years earlier, palms were used to celebrate the recapture of the Temple. So, when the people waved those branches, they weren't just saying "We love you." They were saying, "Go get 'em, King." They were weaponizing their worship.
Why We Get the "King" Concept Wrong
We think of kings as people who get what they want. Jesus, however, defined his kingship by giving things away. It’s a total inversion of the social ladder.
If you've ever felt the pressure to "perform" or "win" at life, Palm Sunday is actually a massive relief. It suggests that the highest form of life isn't found in the conquest, but in the presence. Jesus wasn't there to conquer the Romans; he was there to be with the people. That’s a nuanced distinction that gets lost in the Sunday School version of the story.
Most people think of this day as a joyful kickoff to Holy Week. It's loud. The kids are running around with green fronds. There's singing. But underneath the surface, there's a lot of grief. Jesus was weeping as he approached the city. He knew what was coming. He knew the same hands waving palms would soon be balled into fists.
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Crafting a Relevant Message for Palm Sunday Today
So, how do you make this 2,000-year-old donkey ride matter in 2026?
You talk about expectations.
We all have them. We expect our careers to go a certain way. We expect our partners to stay a certain way. When life deviates from the script, we tend to riot—maybe not in the streets, but definitely in our own hearts. A powerful message for Palm Sunday acknowledges that God often shows up in the "wrong" package.
- The peace you need might come through a difficult conversation, not an easy exit.
- The strength you want might be found in admitting you're exhausted.
- The "victory" might look like a temporary defeat.
It's about the "Triumphal Entry" that didn't look like a triumph to anyone with a sword.
The Symbolism of the Donkey vs. The Horse
In the ancient Near East, a king arriving on a horse meant war. A king arriving on a donkey meant he came in peace. It was a deliberate, calculated move. By choosing the donkey, Jesus was essentially de-escalating the room before he even spoke a word.
Think about your own life. When you enter a room—whether it’s a boardroom or your living room—what are you riding? Are you coming in on a "warhorse" of ego and demands? Or are you coming in on a "donkey" of humility and openness? It sounds cheesy, but the psychological impact of how we "enter" our daily spaces changes everything.
Misconceptions That Kill the Meaning
A huge mistake people make with the message for Palm Sunday is treating it as an isolated event. You can't separate the palms from the passion. If you celebrate Sunday but skip the darkness of Good Friday, the "triumph" is hollow. It’s like watching the first five minutes of a movie and claiming you know the ending.
Another misconception? That the crowd was just "evil" or "fickle."
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Kinda, but not really. They were desperate. They were living under a brutal military occupation. Their taxes were astronomical. Their religious leaders were often complicit with the Romans. When someone comes along healing the sick and feeding thousands, you don't just want a "spiritual" savior. You want a tax break and your freedom back. Their "hosannas" were a cry for help: Hosanna literally translates to "Save us, please!"
It wasn't a song of praise as much as it was a 911 call.
The Role of Community and Public Witness
Palm Sunday was a public act. It wasn't a private prayer in a closet. It was a street theater performance designed to be seen.
In a world where we’re increasingly siloed behind screens, there’s something profound about the physical gathering of Palm Sunday. It reminds us that faith has a public dimension. It’s not just about "me and my soul." It’s about how we show up in the city. It’s about who we cheer for when the world is looking for a leader.
Actionable Ways to Live Out the Message
You don't need a degree in theology to make this day count. It’s about small, intentional shifts in how you perceive power and presence.
Practice Intentional Entry
Tomorrow, when you walk into work or sit down for dinner, pause at the door. Ask yourself: "How am I entering this space?" Try to consciously set aside the need to be the "conqueror." Aim for the "donkey" approach—bring peace, not a checklist of demands.
Identify Your "False Palms"
What are the things you're "cheering" for right now that might actually be distractions? Maybe it's a title, a specific bank balance, or someone else's approval. Notice if your happiness is tied to Jesus (or life) doing exactly what you commanded.
Embrace the "Hosanna" Cry
Don't feel like you have to have it all together to "celebrate." If your life feels like a wreck, your "Save us, please!" is the most authentic Palm Sunday prayer there is. Be honest about where you need help.
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Look for the Marginalized
Jesus' procession was a ragtag group of fishermen, outcasts, and commoners. If you want to find the spirit of that day, look for the people who aren't invited to the "official" parades. Spend time with someone who can't do anything for your social status.
Why the Donkey Still Matters
The donkey is the ultimate symbol of the ordinary. It’s not a majestic creature. It’s stubborn, it’s short, and it’s loud. Yet, it carried the most significant figure in history into his most significant week.
Your "ordinary" is enough. Your messy house, your entry-level job, your struggling relationship—these are the "donkeys" that carry the divine into the world. You don't need a warhorse to make a difference.
The real message for Palm Sunday is that the revolution doesn't start with a bang or a coup. It starts with a choice to walk (or ride) a different path, even when the rest of the world is looking the other way. It’s about the courage to be humble when everyone else is shouting for clout.
Final Thoughts for the Week Ahead
As you move through this week, remember that the "Hosannas" of Sunday are meant to sustain you through the "Silences" of Saturday. Palm Sunday is the setup for the greatest plot twist in human history.
Don't rush to the chocolate eggs and the lilies just yet. Sit with the dust of the road. Feel the weight of the expectations people placed on that man on the donkey. And maybe, just maybe, let go of some of the expectations you've been carrying too.
Next Steps for Reflection:
- Read the account of the entry in all four Gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12). Each writer adds a slightly different "camera angle" to the scene.
- Find a local community that observes the "Liturgy of the Palms." Even if you aren't religious, the sensory experience of holding the branches and walking in a group is a powerful psychological reset.
- Spend five minutes in silence reflecting on one area of your life where you've been trying too hard to "win" and see what happens if you choose to "serve" instead.