Ever wonder why we wave Palms in church on Palm Sunday? Here’s some historical and theological perspectives: 
The Palms we wave and the “Hosannas” we shout speak to our real human desire for liberation but also our human propensity to control the means of salvation.
150 yrs prior to Jesus, Judas Maccabeeus led the Jewish people to victory over the Seluecid dynasty. After leading them to victory, the crowds celebrated by waving palm branches.
To commemorate the victory, Judas “The Hammer” stamped an image of palm branches into their coins which symbolized victory for the Jews over their oppressors.
150 years later, when the Jewish people are under foreign rule again, they wave their palms in the air (and waved them like they just don’t care) shouting,
Hosanna (save us now!)
Hosanna (save us now!)
They are saying something significant to Jesus. They in effect are saying, rescue us and do it like it’s been done before.
But Jesus rescues us in ways we often don’t understand...through the surprising and apparent powerlessness of the cross.
But Jesus rescues us in ways we often don’t understand...through the surprising and apparent powerlessness of the cross.
On Palm Sunday the crowds wanted deliverance from the power of Rome, but Jesus was about to deliver the entire world from the power of sin & death.
When we wave palms as followers of Jesus, we do so with a different spirit. We wave our palms with a post-cross/resurrection perspective, trusting in God’s way of salvation in Christ.
#PalmSunday
[End of thread]
#PalmSunday
[End of thread]
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
