Two Processions, One King: The Story of Palm Sunday

A Tale of Two Processions

Do you know what a procession is? We might call it a big walk. Our Bible story today talks about a very special one that Jesus was part of — but you know, there may actually have been two big walks in that same city on that same day.

The Jesus Procession

The first procession was a very Jesus kind of procession. It was full of ordinary people waving branches and singing songs of praise and joy because of the amazing things Jesus had been doing and the wonderful things he'd been saying.

Even the fact that he was riding a donkey mattered — because that was how their ancient stories said God's chosen king would one day enter the city. The people had begun to think that perhaps Jesus was that king, coming at last to rule the world with peace and love.

The Roman Procession

But the other procession might have looked very different indeed. This was a very Roman procession. The Romans had conquered the land and made themselves its rulers. Every time people started talking about God's chosen king, it sounded to them a lot like "down with the Romans."

So they also made a big walk into the city on this day — not on donkeys with songs of praise and joy, but on big war horses with swords, to remind everyone exactly who ruled the world.

When the Two Processions Meet

I think there might be trouble when these two big walks meet, don't you?

Sure enough, in a few days' time, there will be a third big walk. No waving palms this time — only fists. No songs of praise and joy — only tears. Because there is Jesus, walking slowly, staggering under the weight of Roman punishment. Because of today's first two processions, that third one was bound to happen, wasn't it?

But That's Not the End

But you know what? Because of who Jesus was — because he really was God's chosen king, coming at last to rule the world with peace and love — there will be one more big walk.

On the Sunday at the end of this week, friends of Jesus all around the world gather to parade through the streets, singing songs of praise and joy. And hey — somehow we've come right back to celebrating again!

Whatever can have happened between that third sad big walk and this fourth happy one? You know, we may just have to come to church next Sunday to find out.