Title: The Palm Branch and the Little Donkey
Contents
Today is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of Lent, which is the 40 days before Easter, to commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We Protestants are familiar with 'Pentecoste', which means the coming of the Holy Spirit, but they don't seem to be familiar with 'Lent' (tessaracoste). It is well known that the number 40 has significant symbolism in the Bible. For example, Moses' 40-day prayer on Mount Sinai, the 40-year journey of the Exodus, Elijah's 40-day prayer, and Jesus' 40-day fasting prayer. In a word, the number 40 in the Bible symbolizes preparation and thorough preparation.
It is said that it was Charlemagne the Great in 731 AD that designated the period 40 days before Easter as Lent in the sense of thorough preparation for the victory of the resurrection. Then, in 1099, Pope Urban II designated this period as the period of atonement, and the so-called 'Sacred Wednesday', or Ash Wednesday, arose. The season of Lent begins with Sacred Assemblies Wednesday, an event for collecting and burning palm branches used on Palm Sunday a year ago, repenting of sins committed over the year, and confessing the fact that human beings are bound to become “dust and ashes”. will be
However, after the Reformation, this tradition of the Day of Atonement or Lent gradually began to fade, and today, it is hardly observed in Protestants. It is also unfortunate that the tradition of Lent, the time to reflect on ourselves and prepare for the true joy of the resurrection by repenting for a certain period of time, has disappeared. The modern church is too focused on sermons, so there are many aspects that the members actually participate in and prepare for. It is also unfortunate that the custom of the whole community participating in each of these festivals and festivals has disappeared. As individualism develops in the modern West, churches and worship services seem to have gradually changed to individualism.
Today, Palm Sunday, the last Sunday of Lent, is the Sunday that commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It is a day to remember the thrilling event when the inhabitants of Jerusalem plucked palm branches and cheered and applauded Jesus. It is also called “Hosanna Sunday” because the excited children took the lead in welcoming Jesus and his companions by shouting “Hosanna, Hosanna”.
But Palm Sunday is not a Sunday we can celebrate with joy. Palm Sunday is a day to remember the good news of his entry into Jerusalem and the death of Golgotha to come. It is a Sunday to remember the cheers of the high crowd as if receiving a triumphal general, as well as the shouts of curses that they will pour out as they stand by the cross a few days later. So the palm tree symbolizes joy and sorrow at the same time. Just like the expensive perfume that Mary offered for Jesus the day before, it contains the joy of glorifying Jesus and the sorrow of preparing for his death in advance.
The Palm Sunday we commemorate has such a double meaning. It must be remembered that this week, which begins with cheers of triumph and triumph, is in fact a Holy Week. The entry into Jerusalem is a great turning point in Jesus' ministry and a great anti-climax in the entire Gospels. First of all, it is a great reversal in a regional sense. Jesus, who was mainly active in Galilee, is now finally advancing to Jerusalem, the central stage. His resolute will was “going at the forefront toward Jerusalem” (Luke 19:28) and “Jesus was standing in front of his disciples, and they were astonished.