40 Crosses for 40 Day: 34th Cross - The Cross of Palms

Although, properly speaking, today is a Saturday and the end of the week, we will focus instead on its eve instead of its daylight hours.

Today, then, is the Eve of Palm Sunday, the day foretold by the inspired author in the Book of Zechariah. The prophet proclaims, "Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zec 9:9) This annunciation of a Messiah king comes to pass with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey.

This prophecy from the Book of Zechariah upends the traditional idea of what a king is, an idea we most certainly still hold today. Aren't kings supposed to have the biggest and the best? Shouldn't they wear expensive clothes and jeweled rings? Aren't they supposed to be full of confidence and bravado, possibly even swaggering a bit?

"Behold: Your king is coming to you, . . . riding on a donkey." (Zec 9:9)

None of these descriptions fit Jesus of Nazareth, the God-man who arrives with a rag-tag band of followers, most of whom are as poor as He is. In fact, Zechariah goes on to explicitly state that the king sent from God will not be as people assume. Instead, he will be a "figure of humble demeanor, ,..not a conquering warrior." (footnote to Zec 9:9) This king will "banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warrior’s bow will be banished, and he will proclaim peace to the nations." (Zec 9:10) This king will get rid of the trappings of war and conquering, i.e. the chariot, the horse and the warrior's bow. He will proclaim peace to all the nations, not conquest. How exactly this humble king intends to bring about his message of peace is not really explained. It will only be later, through the words and actions of Jesus, and especially His death and resurrection, that this kingdom of peace is understood.

The cross for today is one the typical crosses we see on Palm Sunday. Many people take their palms home and keep them, and weaving the palms has become a type of artform, especially weaving them into a cross. The wrapped center of the Cross of Palms looks very similar to most portrayals of the two thieves who were crucified on either side of Jesus.

These thieves, Dismas and Gestas by name, are often shown with a band of cloth wrapped around their arms or midsections, similar to the Swaddling Clothes cross. For example, the picture below shows Dismas and Gestas with rope tied around their arms, instead nails in their hands. The question is often asked - Why was Jesus nailed to the cross but the two thieves were not? Was Jesus singled out for more pain and suffering?

According to Biblical archaeology, there is no reason to think that Jesus was crucified any differently than any other person executed by the Romans. The Romans were known for their efficiency and their brutality. It is unlikely they would have changed their methods for one person. Since nails have been discovered at crucifixion sites, probably all three were crucified in the same way. Why is Jesus often the only one portrayed with nails, then? The answer goes back to the prophecy from Zechariah. The humble, innocent king is inaugurating His kingdom of peace by sacrificing Himself.

The deaths of Dismas and Gestas, or anyone else for that matter, will not save us. These deaths will not put away the chariot, the horse and the warrior's bow. So, to show Jesus' death as the truly significant and universe-alternating event it was, artists show His death being different. What is that difference? The two thieves, Dismas and Gestas, had to be tied up to stay on the cross, to pay for their misdeeds. But Jesus didn't need any additional securing. It was His great love that kept Him on the cross, not any ropes.

Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us to mark Palm Sunday for the reality it truly is - the entrance of our Messiah into His kingdom. Help us to keep Jesus as our king, and work to build His kingdom. And in all things, we praise You. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.