Laying Your Palm Branches Down

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It was named by the Presidential Committee of Naming Holidays, when they met on the Sunday before Easter to determine the names of all the holidays. While they were meeting, one of them became enlightened, slapped his forehead with his palm and exclaimed, “Next week is Easter!” All right, we know that's not true, committees don't become enlightened.
Palm Sunday signifies the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. While entering into Jerusalem, the crowds were so excited with his coming that they sang songs of joy and praise and laid palm branches before him. “The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Blessed is the King of Israel!'” (John 12:12,13 NIV)
Why are palm branches specifically mentioned? Couldn't it have meant the same if it just said, “They took branches and went out to meet him. . .” It does describe palm branches for a reason. Palm trees symbolized victory and joy. They were carrying the palm branches in their hands and laying them before Jesus as they realized the victory and joy that he was going to bring them. He was going to bring them victory over Satan and the joy of eternal life.
Many of the people there, were witnesses to the resurrection of Lazarus. They told many other people what Jesus had done at the tomb of Lazarus. This brought and increased crowd to Jesus, “Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.” (John 12:17,18 NIV) All of these people knew that Jesus had the power over death and would save them.
Remember back to a time when you committed your life to Christ. In most cases, someone told you about Jesus. Remember how excited you were. Remember how you wanted to tell everyone you met about the change in your life. Remember after a while, the emotional excitability wore off. Remember now how it doesn't matter to you if you talk about Jesus or not. Remember how it's taboo to talk about Jesus.
Jesus hasn't changed. He still has the power over sin and death. He has conquered Satan.
Take this time now to remember the triumphal entry Jesus made into your life. Become excited all over again. Sing songs of joy and praise. Lay the palm branches before your heart. Perhaps someone will come because they have heard and seen in you all the things that have happened and they want to see Jesus also.