Why do people call it Palm Sunday?

Answer 1

Palm Sunday is in commemoration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem in the last week before He was arrested and crucified. People lined His path or waved palm branches, a symbol at the time of victory.

John 12:12-13

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

AnswerJohn Shelby Spong (Jesus for the NonReligious) puts it this way: The ]ewish eight day celebration of the harvest, known as Sukkoth, and also called the Festival of the Tabernacles or Booths, was probably the most popular holiday among the Jews in the first century. In the observance of Sukkoth, worshippers processed through Jerusalem and in the Temple, waving a bunch of leafy branches made of willow, myrtle and palm. As they waved these branches in that procession, the worshippers recited words from Psalm 118, the psalm normally used at Sukkoth. Among these words were "Save us, we beseech you, O Lord." Save us in Hebrew is hosianna or 'hosanna'. This is typically followed by "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:25-6)."

Mark's Gospel was the earliest of the New Testament gospels. It took the Sukkoth traditions and transferred them from autumn to the Passover season for the procession story. Mark 11:8 says (NAB), "Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields." The words used at the Sukkoth are reflected in Mark 11:9: "And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Because the Passover season is too early for 'leafy branches' (except palms), John actually says 'palm branches', creating our modern tradition of Palm Sunday.

Answer 2

A:John Shelby Spong (Jesus for the NonReligious) puts it this way:

The Jewish eight day celebration of the harvest, known as Sukkoth, and also called the Festival of the Tabernacles or Booths, was probably the most popular holiday among the Jews in the first century. In the observance of Sukkoth, worshippers processed through Jerusalem and in the Temple, waving a bunch of leafy branches made of willow, myrtle and palm. As they waved these branches in that procession, the worshippers recited words from Psalm 118, the psalm normally used at Sukkoth. Among these words were "Save us, we beseech you, O Lord." Save us in Hebrew is hosianna or 'hosanna'. This is typically followed by "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:25-6)."

Although the Passover is too early for leafy branches (except palms), Mark 11:8-9 says (NAB), "Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'." The Gospels of Matthew and Luke more or less follow Mark, but John's Gospel corrects this to say 'palm branches', creating our modern tradition of Palm Sunday.

Answer 3

A:John Shelby Spong (Jesus for the NonReligious) puts it this way:

The Jewish eight day celebration of the harvest, known as Sukkoth, and also called the Festival of the Tabernacles or Booths, was probably the most popular holiday among the Jews in the first century. In the observance of Sukkoth, worshippers processed through Jerusalem and in the Temple, waving a bunch of leafy branches made of willow, myrtle and palm. As they waved these branches in that procession, the worshippers recited words from Psalm 118, the psalm normally used at Sukkoth. Among these words were "Save us, we beseech you, O Lord." Save us in Hebrew is hosianna or 'hosanna'. This is typically followed by "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:25-6)."

Although the Passover is too early for leafy branches (except palms), Mark 11:8-9 says (NAB), "Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" The Gospels of Matthew and Luke more or less follow Mark, but John's Gospel corrects this to say 'palm branches', creating our modern tradition of Palm Sunday.

Answer 4

Palm Sunday is special because it is when Jesus entered Jerrusalem riding on a donkey. The people were waving Palm Branches to honor him.

Roman Catholic AnswerPalm Sunday is the popular name for Passion Sunday. Passion Sunday is the Sunday which begins Holy Week, and the Passion of Our Blessed Lord. The Passion narrative is read in full on Passion Sunday; and the memorial of Our Blessed Lord's triumphal entry into Jersualem is remembered at every Mass.

Answer 5

Palm Sunday is named that way because it is the day that Jesus rode into the town on a donkey and all the people of Jerusalem laid down palm fronds as a carpet for Jesus, as it was known that he was their king.

Answer 6

Over the years, mainstream Christianity incorporated this event into their calendar, to inform their followers of the soon approaching 'Easter' resurrection. As Christ entered Jerusalem, the people threw palms down before His path, shouting Hosanna - save us to their hopeful new king.

However, it appears to be symbolic of a previous event in Israel in the 2nd Century BC when the human king Judas Maccabeus, aka the 'Hammer' defeated the Syrians and freed Israel, becoming her king. The story is in the Apocryphal Book of Maccabees - chapter 13 verse 51 is of particular noting. Judas became king and had coins minted with Palm branches stamped on them.

This seems to indicate what the people were expecting of Jesus Christ - a human king to usurp the Romans and free Israel, saving (Hosanna) them all. However, Christ entered into Jerusalem similarly like King Solomon on a donkey foal - beast of burden - to send the clear message that He was indeed King of Israel fulfilling Zechariah 9:9 and Luke 1:32-33. The 'blinded' people would soon be shouting 'crucify Him' in the days to follow.

John 12:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

13took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

“Hosanna!

‘Blessed

isHe who comes in the name of the L

ord

!’

[a]

The King of Israel!”

Footnotes:

1. John 12:13Psalm 118:26

Answer 7

It commemorates the day Jesus was welcomed to Jerusalem by people waving palms as he passed through the streets.

Answer 8

Because it is the first day of Holy Week, the last week before Easter, a very important week in Christianity.