Heart Thoughts from Helen

Of Palm Trees and Parades

Palm fronds: a leaf from a palm tree, used as a symbol of victory or success

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” (John 12:13 (NIV)

When I think of palm trees I think of gentle breezes, blue green waters, and sand between my toes and the sun on my face. I think of a picture of my husband leaning against a palm tree on a Caribbean beach just a couple years ago. I don’t usually think of palm trees as symbolic of Jesus ‘victorious entry into Jerusalem except at this time of the year. I don’t usually consider palm trees and parades in the same thought. They are, however, pertinent to the Passion of Christ.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13 NIV)

Most folks loves a parade. In McCormick, the small town in which we lived for eleven years, parades drew the town’s people en masse. Some of our grandchildren enjoyed these parades as demonstrated in many photographs we’ve taken during that time. Instead of palm fronds, candy is strewn all across the street. It’s a festive time. From where we lived, just two blocks off Main, we could walk to the parade. Older people brought lawn chairs and sat out in front of the old train station/ antique store. Christmas parades, Gold Rush Festival parades, July 4th parades. What is it that gathers a crowd to a parade?

One of my greatest desires as a girl was to ride a horse in the Christmas parade in Sumter. As a teenager my dream became a reality. I loved every minute of it: from the long ride into town to the lining up at the end of the parade (we all know why the horses are last on the list of entries), riding down Main Street on the crisp December day. It was thrilling. Don’t ask me why.

“See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech. 9:9)NIV

Jesus chose a colt, the foal of a donkey (Matthew 21:2; Zech.9:9) to ride in a parade into Jerusalem. The same Jerusalem that He wept over not long before transformed into a victory procession for the King of Kings. I’m thinking of a donkey on which His mother, Mary, rode into Bethlehem prior to His birth. No parade for her. And then there’s that white horse in Revelation 19 whose Rider is called, Faithful and True. Now that will be a parade you don’t want to miss.

People placed palm branches before the KING before they knew how He would reign. They didn’t know what victory would be won the following week. But He did!

Palms branches prior to His Passion,

Palm branches before the brutality,

Palm branches: symbols of victory and their owners showing no shame shortly thereafter.

The palms of hands that struck Him bear no resemblance to the “Hosanna” palms strewn before his humble yet regal ride through the city for which He wept. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often I have longed to gather your children”.

And now they gather…but not to be drawn together under His wings as little biddies for refuge.
Palm branches, praises sung, prayers prayed, preparation for a preponderance of agony, a parade of people pleading for a Savior.

Oh, the pathos of the week to come. Then, that same gentle Jesus made a whip and did some holy house cleaning in the Temple. “My House will be called a House of Prayer, but you’re making it into a den of robbers” (John 21:13)NIV

After I rode on horseback in the Christmas parade years ago, I had to turn around and take that horse back to the barn, brush, water, feed him and then go home. The parade was over but work prevailed. After my grandchildren watched the parades in town, ate all that candy and one or more got down off their Poppy’s shoulders, we went home to do whatever needed to be done.

What happens after the parade? You do whatever comes next.

What did Jesus do after the parade? He purged the Temple; He prepared for pain. He poured water in a basin, took up a towel and washed feet. I wonder if Jesus needs to purge our temples today. Not just the local church, but THE Temple of the Holy Spirit, my body, in which He dwells?? Perhaps our feet need to be washed from walking in the world.

Will you celebrate this Palm Sunday singing Hosannas to the king of kings and then be shocked when He proceeds to ‘clean house’ before He can use you in His service? Will you, like Peter at first refuse to let Him wash your feet? Will you fall asleep when He wants to meet with you during the wee hours of the morning? Or will you run scared at the first sign of danger? Will you betray Him like Judas, or deny Him like Peter? Will you be available to care for His family like John? What will happen to the palm branches after Palm Sunday? What will you do after the parade?

O, Holy One of Israel, impress upon my heart the meaning of it all.