This week in many churches across the world, Christians will celebrate what is known as Palm Sunday. On this Sunday each year, Christians celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. As Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, the crowds of people on the street waved palm branches and even covered his path on the road with the branches. Palm branches in Biblical times often symbolized goodness and victory.

From the book of Matthew we read:

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:8-9 (NIV)

The people were excited, and it showed on their faces and with their actions. Much like the faces of little children as they walk through the sanctuaries each year on Palm Sunday, we all get excited and sing “Hosanna to the King” and experience the feeling many of those did over 2,000 years ago as Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

However, as He rode into Jerusalem, Jesus continued His journey to Calvary and to the cross where He would become the final sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.

As He arrived, one could imagine Jesus knew many of those who were waving palm branches and shouting hosannas would in just a matter of days betray Him and change their “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him.”

Not one of us could imagine how Jesus felt as the days drew nearer for the sacrifice to take place. The love He felt for us, and the price for our sins that He was about to pay with His life, no greater love has ever been shown.

Jesus knew what fate beheld him in Jerusalem and had shared it with His disciples and followers.

I am sure it was really difficult for them to believe what had been written by the prophets of old and had been told to them was about to happen.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, I assume He was waving and smiling at those along the path. However, that path was leading directly to Calvary, and a brutal death that none could ever imagine.

In less than a week, those arms would be outstretched and nailed to a cross. His path was laid out before the beginning of time, and the journey to the cross was already part of the Father’s plan.

His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.