Palm Sunday - Hosanna to the Son of David

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the last week in Lent, the Sunday before Easter. In the Palm Sunday Gospels crowds play a significant role as they acclaim Jesus Son of David, the one who comes in the name of the Lord - yet soon after the same crowds are shouting for his condemnation and execution.

John's gospel, "they took palm branches and went out to meet Him" (12:13 HCSB)

As an historian I know it was far from unusual for men of note (particularly local Roman governors) to be fêted in this way, riding on horseback with an entourage; crowds lining the route into Jerusalem or indeed any significant city at the time. What was so significant about Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was that he did not enter by the main gate; neither did he ride a noble steed - but instead chose a humble donkey.

One of my favourite books as a child - now sadly out of print - was "Donkey's Glory" by Nan Goodall, the tale of a family of donkeys who were there servicing Jesus. The grandmother donkey who carried Mary, the donkey who helped them flee in the dead of night from Herod's men, and the donkey who carried Jesus into Jerusalem. It's a beautiful story about humility and service, reminding us that neither requires show or ostentation. Jesus drew crowds without request, without Caesar's instruction and people chose to celebrate him as their King laying palm branches in front of him- an act of particular symbolism in the ancient world.

The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm (Phoenix) was sacred in Mesopotamian religions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality. In Judaism, the lulav, a closed frond of the date palm is part of the festival of Sukkot. The palm has meaning in Christianity as well Christian iconography to represent victory, i.e.,the victory of the spirit over the flesh, Revelation 7:9.. Wikipedia 

Photo courtesy of Adam Birkett, Unsplash

Palm Sunday questions our modern interpretation of the word "King". The crowds recognised Christ riding a donkey into Jerusalem as a declaration of victory and salvation. The word "Hosanna" in Hebrew literally means, “I beg you to save,” or “please deliver us.” Solomon was David’s first descendant to ride the king’s mule, and be celebrated as the next King of a kingdom that would have no end (1 Kings, Chapter 1). Jesus would be David’s last descendant to be King of the Jews forever. The prophecy from Zechariah 9:9-10, riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey was an unmistakable fulfillment of God’s word, declaring to all he is the rightful successor to the King, from this moment on, and that his kingdom would be eternal.

Palm Sunday 2020
The image of crowds is a sobering one for us during this period of lockdown. With churches closed we are deprived of our usual route of celebration. However Palm Sunday also marks victory over sin, and the end of Jesus' earthly ministry. We can be present in our hearts as we remember this, because in reality Palm Sunday was indeed a procession of a virtual kind - one that celebrated a king who would die not only to save his people, but to redeem the whole world.

There are so many anthems to choose from to mark Palm Sunday, but one of my favourite is "Hosanna to the Son of David" by Thomas Weelkes which I've linked via YouTube below.

Hosanna to the Son of David is a famous example of the English 'full' anthem – as opposed to the 'verse' anthem, and opens with a majestic six-voice proclamation. It's glorious thick texture shows how effectively music can conjure up an image, it's a joy to sing!

You can read more on Weelkes here.



Alternatively you might like to listen to Gibbons' anthem of the same name - but more on Gibbons tomorrow!