Palm Sunday precedes that of Easter. On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Christ’s entering Jerusalem where the Temple was located in order to celebrate Passover, as per the Jews’ custom. On His way to Jerusalem, about 2.5 million Jews received Christ, writes Josephus. They held palm branches in order to welcome Him, in like manner they would welcome a prophet or victorious king. They also cried out loud joyfully.
That incident was witnessed by a portrait gallery of characters: Christ, the main character, His disciples and companions, the people who welcomed Him, children, some Greeks, archpriests, and Jews. We shall delineate some of these characters.
Christ’s Meekness
Christ spoke of humbleness, beatifying the humble in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Likewise, He entered Jerusalem humbly and meekly, just as we read, “‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Thus, He gave a practical lesson on meekness, for He did not enter the city with the flourish of a king, but simply, which the haughty did not like.
The disciples and apostles understood this, which is why their life and behavior were guided by wisdom, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
Meekness is a great treasure that protects man from many evils. Here, it is worthy to recount the story of the man who was cleaning his new car. Suddenly, his four-year-old son held a stone and scratched one of the car sides. Seeing this, the father started beating his son hard with a sharp instrument several times, which led to amputating the son’s fingers in the hospital. The son kept asking his father when his fingers would grow, which saddened the father immensely. After the man had returned to his car, he looked at the scratches which the son made. They read, “I love you, dad!” How easy it is to get angry and make decisions hastily, only to treat others harshly! How difficult it is to act meekly and be patient! There lies the difference between strength and weakness, death and life.
Christ’s Humbleness
Christ chose to enter Jerusalem riding a colt, not a horse or a chariot. Thus, He gives us a lesson on humbleness which He wanted us to abide by. Yet, it is the humbleness of the strong. The humble are greatly valued by God, which is why He exalts them. We read, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.”
Christ’s Disciples
Christ’s disciples accompanied Him in His journey, offering all their possessions, namely, their garments which they covered the ground with. They loved Christ exceedingly, which is why they never hesitated to give Him all what they had. How great such souls are! The souls that love God exceedingly seek nothing except being with Him.
Children
Children are also part of the beautiful scene. They gathered and cried out welcomingly to receive Christ who had loved and cared for them. In fact, when His disciples tried to push children away from Him, He said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them!” Children had nothing to offer Christ except their love and joy for seeing Him. So, He accepted them happily. Here, it is worthy to recount the story of a father who was working in his home study. At that time, his daughter entered the room, carrying a gift box which she gave him. The father opened the box only to find it empty! He got upset and asked her why she did so. Tears filled the filled the girl’s eyes. She answered, “It is not empty. It is filled with my love and kisses!” The father realized that the box was not empty, for, in reality, it was full of something that cannot be seen by the naked eye, but by the heart. In like manner, children offered Christ their simple, yet deep love to Christ.
The Greeks
On Palm Sunday, Jerusalem was full of Jews who came to attend the feast. Likewise, some Greeks came over to worship. It is believed that they were Jewish, but lived in Greek cities, which is why they were considered Greek citizens. Some interpreters count them Greek by origin. Yet, they believed in God and became Jews. They came over to Phillip and asked him to see Christ. Phillip told Andrew, after which both told Christ.
Those people heard of Christ and wanted to meet him. They remind us of the Magi who came from the East, having seen the star. They saw Christ in the manger. Likewise, those Greeks heard about Christ. They might as well have seen the city echo with the greeting roar. So, they requested His audience. Christ’s meekness might be misunderstood as unattractive. Yet, it attracted everybody to Him. Everybody sought and yearned to talk to Him.
Christ conveyed a different concept of greatness and strength from what those Greeks knew. This concept touched the hearts that sought peace and truth. Thus, they deserved the blessing of seeing Christ.
The Pharisees
The Pharisees also took part in that great scene. When they saw the people’s joy, they said, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” They sought nothing save their own glory and dignity, heedless of the truth, which is why they feared lest they lose their positions. Hence, they lost everything. They hurried towards Christ and asked Him to stop the disciples and the people from crying. Here, one would recall a sage’s words on the person who deserves to be called “strong” and given “dignity”. He is, “the person who embraces and endures the greatest number of hearts.”
How strange it is that the Pharisees remind us of the priests who had witnessed Christ’s birth! Herod asked them about the place where He was born. They told him it was Bethlehem. The Magi went there, and were blessed by the sight of Christ; whereas the priests and scribes lost it! Today, the Greeks seek Him, while the Pharisees move away from all sorts of blessing!
What a story! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
