I remember celebrating Palm Sunday as a little boy, as a Roman Catholic. We were given palm branches by the church, which I thought was nice, and we took them home. I didn’t know, then, what it was about, but it is a pleasant memory. A little later I learned that Jesus came into Jerusalem on that day, and the people came out of the city to meet him, as he rode into the city’s gate on a donkey. Folks were laying their cloaks at his feet,[1] as well as palm branches,[2] they had plucked from the surrounding palm trees. Jesus entered the East Gate of Jerusalem in a celebratory fashion, with everyone shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna to the King of Israel, who comes in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9; John 12:13). It was a kind of royal affair, as though folks were shouting in worship, “Alleluia!” to Jesus, but this isn’t really what was going on.
The term, Alleluia, means “Praise Yah!” or “Praise Yahweh!” the name of the God of Israel. On the other hand, the word Hosanna, means “Save now!” or “Help now!” In other words, “Save now, oh Son of David! Save now, oh King of Israel!”
What picture do we get from this? Well, the first thing we need to understand is the Jews weren’t asking Jesus to take them to heaven. We must not put a Christian salvation message on the lips of the Jewish pilgrims of that day. The Christian worldview that the Messiah was to save Jews and/or the world from their sins and bring them to heaven was not understood by anyone in the 1st century AD. Even today Jews don’t embrace that worldview of a coming Messiah who saves them from their sins. These folks in Bible times were pleading with Jesus to save them now from the Roman scourge, and “Make Israel Great Again!”
Something similar occurred with Simon the Maccabean, when he cleansed Temple. The people with him took palm branches, harps, cymbals, and viols, and they sang hymns and songs, because a great enemy was cast out of Israel (1Maccabees 13:51). Something like this was what the people expected Jesus to do. The air was thick with the belief that the Kingdom of God was near (Luke 19:11), and the people expected their Messiah to do something to rid them of the Roman presence and the Jewish authorities, whom they had placed over them to keep them peaceful and quiet.
So, this is the context of Jesus so-called Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. The people were shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna to the King of Israel.” It was like a coronation, whereby, in the context of the Maccabees, they wanted Jesus to cast out the Roman enemy, and in the context of Jehu, King of Israel, they wanted Jesus to be their King, and they were communicating that they were ready to submit to him, and “Make Israel Great Again!”
So, what does this mean for us today in the context of Donald Trump coming on the scene for the 2016 elections? Well, picture this in your mind. About the time Jesus was coming into Jerusalem 6 days prior to the Passover (John 12:1), perhaps on the same day or a day or two prior to or after Jesus’ entry, Pilate came in with his military and their war horses to keep order during the Passover season. With this in mind, consider the words of Robert Jeffress, Evangelical leader and pastor of the mega, First Baptist Church of Dallas:
“When I’m looking for a leader who’s gonna sit across the negotiating table from a nuclear Iran, or who’s gonna be intent on destroying ISIS, I couldn’t care less about that leader’s temperament or his tone or his vocabulary. Frankly, I want the meanest, toughest son of a gun I can find. And I think that’s the feeling of a lot of evangelicals.”[3]
Okay, so this is Robert Jeffress’ choice for protection, but do his people share his view? Well, Jeffress invited Donald Trump to offer a Christmas message at his church in December of 2021. Trump came and spoke to an estimated 3000 plus crowd with unknown numbers in other rooms listening. Instead of speaking of Jesus, Trump concluded with “We’re going to make America great again,” and the crowd rose and began chanting “USA, USA, USA…”
What does that say about white Evangelicals in America? They certainly seem to be caught up in a personality cult, and have chosen Trump over Jesus. Give us Barabbas; give us Barabbas!” Give us a man who will deliver the goods or die trying. Barabbas was the man who was imprisoned and intended to be crucified for insurrection against Rome. “Give us the meanest, toughest son of a gun (you) can find!”
Jesus disappointed the Jews, telling them he was about to die, and, in his death, he would draw all mankind unto himself (John 12:32-33), and the Jews immediately withdrew their support, saying what kind of Messiah is this? (John 12:34). Similarly, Jeffress wants “…the meanest, toughest son of a gun I can find” and his congregation of 3000 plus white Evangelicals agree![4]
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[1] A similar thing was done to honor King Jehu when he was anointed king by Elisha (2Kings 9:13).
[2] Palm branches were used after the recapture of Jerusalem from the Syrians (cir. 141 BC), and the rededication of the Temple (1Maccabees 13:51). They were also used as temporary dwellings, while in the wilderness, just prior to their entry into the Promised Land (Kingdom of God). Moreover, palms were part of coinage art on Jewish coins, minted during their war with Rome (66-73 AD). Palm branches have a rich history in Jewish culture, in remembrance of great victories, deliverance from their enemies and the protection of God.
[3] Quoting Robert Jeffress interview as printed in the Dallas Observer.
[4] This study is based upon and my interpretation of Give Us Barabbas!, and interview by Pat Kahnke.
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