Palm Branches

~ Significance of Palm Branches ~

Past  ~  During the Biblical period palm branches were symbolic of goodness, well-being, and victory.  Therefore, they were depicted on coins and important structures and buildings.  King Solomon’s temple included carvings of palm branches on the doors and walls.  “He carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.  And the floor of the temple he overlaid with gold, both the inner and outer sanctuaries” (1 Kings 6:29-30). 

Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would come riding on a donkey: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.  I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off.  He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth’” (Zechariah 9:9-10).

Present  ~  Most Christian churches celebrate Palm Sunday when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem.  “The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna!  “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  The King of Israel!’  Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.’  His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him” (John 12:12-16). 

Future  ~  At the close of our Bible we find that people of all ethnic and geographic areas of earth will raise palm branches to honor our King Jesus Christ.  “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’  All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.

Amen’” (Revelation 7:9-12).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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