John 12:12-13

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel."

This is the beginning of what many people today call “Palm Sunday.” Why were these people waving palm branches anyway?! The palm trees were symbols of victory, and were to recognize a ruler. These people were looking for Jesus to come to Jerusalem, and establish Himself as KING of Israel. They had gathered together for a political party, not for worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ. They didn’t realize that the Cross had to come before the Crown.

The branch of the palm tree was a symbol of the rulership of the Messiah.

Jeremiah 23:5-6

5 "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD,

"When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;

And He will reign as king and act wisely

And do justice and righteousness in the land.

6 "In His days Judah will be saved,

And Israel will dwell securely;

And this is His name by which He will be called,

'The LORD our righteousness.'

Zechariah 3:8

8 "Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you -- indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.

The branches referred to Jesus Christ coming to establish His earthly kingdom. These people weren’t looking for Jesus to go to the Cross and accomplish salvation for all sin, but to come and get rid of the Roman government! They were simply ignorant of the fact that the Cross had to come before the Crown.

Waving palm branches is actually a future celebration. Jesus Christ will one day establish His perfect kingdom here on earth. (For you Tuesday group, we know it’s at least 1007 years from now!)

Look at the time of waving palm branches. This is in heaven, just before Jesus returns to set up His 1000 Millennial Reign.

Revelation 7:9-10

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,

"Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Believe me; I enjoy nothing more than seeing all the cute dressed up children bringing their palm branches into church. But it is essential for us as Christians to understand the reality behind what we celebrate. You don’t want to be one of these people:

John 4:22

22 "You worship that which you do not know; …