What is Palm Sunday? 5 interesting facts
4. People misunderstood Jesus' message
The late evangelist Billy Graham once explained why the same crowd that welcomed Jesus turned against Him at the time of His crucifixion.
"One reason the crowds turned against Jesus was because He refused to be the kind of king they wanted — a political and military leader who would free them from the hated Roman government," the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's website states. "Roman soldiers had occupied their land for decades, and they hoped Jesus would lead them in a successful revolt."
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Jesus made clear to them that His goal was different.
"God had another purpose for Him — and that purpose was far greater than any mere political or military victory. His goal was to establish another kingdom — the Kingdom of God," BGEA adds. "This, He taught them, wasn't to be a political kingdom, but the rule of God over our hearts and minds — and ultimately, over the whole universe. To the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, He declared, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight …. My kingdom is from another place' (John 18:36)."
"How could this happen? It could happen only if sin and death and Satan were defeated — for these keep God's Kingdom from becoming a reality in our lives. And how could they be defeated? Only by Christ's death and resurrection for us — for by His death and resurrection Jesus Christ conquered sin and death and Satan."
