What Happens Between Palm Sunday and the Cross?
How does one even begin to speak about all that transpires from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday?
Jesus rode into Jerusalem making a bold statement—riding on a donkey. It signified kingship, but a humble King. He had said many times that His kingdom was not of this world, but the ruling elders either did not understand or simply did not want to see it. For one, they did not believe they were spiritually deprived or that they needed a Savior to take away their sins.
When Familiar Faith Becomes Routine
Have you ever been in a routine so automatic that you don’t even have to think? It’s just the way of life—and the thought of doing something differently is… well, out of the question.
That’s where the people were.
They had been offering sacrifices to God for millennia. Even though they knew the prophecies by heart and leaned on them, the thought of someone actually fulfilling them—and changing everything—was just too much. Jesus came to make the final atonement for sin, a sacrifice that would abolish all others. But that required people to admit they were spiritually bankrupt, that they could not earn their place in heaven.
Jesus said He came to set the captives free. He was talking about them… and about you and me—all of humanity. We are bound by sin, a condition that began in the garden when Adam ate the fruit. Through one man, sin entered the world. And through the new Adam—Jesus—redemption would come.
From “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him”
The same people who cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” were the same ones just five days later shouting, “Crucify Him!” How easily we turn. How easily we cheapen the grace that has been given.
The Cross Was Not an Accident
There is so much that unfolds between Palm Sunday and the empty tomb. I encourage you watch our two part series Palm Sunday to Resurrection: The Hidden Meaning of Holy Week (Part 1) and The Fulfillment of Holy Week (Part 2). The Scriptures are rich—layered with meaning that goes far deeper than what first appears on the page. Every detail connects to a legacy of culture, tradition, and devotion to God.
Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Passover Lamb. On Friday, He was nailed to the cross at the same time the first lamb was sacrificed in the temple—9 a.m. He hung there for six hours, the full span of the sacrifices. Six—the number of man. Then at 3 p.m., when the High Priest sacrificed the final lamb, the shofar would sound, and the priest would stretch out his arms and declare, “It is finished.”
At that exact moment, Jesus—hanging on the cross, arms stretched wide, every drop of blood poured out—looked to the Father and said, “It is finished.”
The price for sin and death had been paid.
All who call on Him as Lord and Savior are redeemed.
When It Hasn’t Fully Clicked Yet
For those who watched, there was only despair and grief. But Jesus had already told them, “You will mourn, but your mourning will turn to joy.” He was speaking of the empty tomb.
Even though He told them plainly, they didn’t understand. It didn’t sink in.
Maybe that’s where you are right now.
Maybe you’ve read the Bible. Maybe you’ve seen God move in your life. Maybe you’ve felt Him calling—but it just hasn’t fully clicked yet. Or maybe you’ve been holding back, hesitant to surrender, unsure about taking that step of faith and calling on Jesus as your personal Savior.
In a world where we say, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”… this is the one place that doesn’t apply.
It is that good. And it is true.
The Gift You Cannot Earn
You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. It is a free gift—already paid in full.
Christ loves you so much that He left His throne in glory, came to this earth, and became the ultimate sacrifice to make a way for you back to the Father. The empty tomb is for all of us. It is our hope. It is our victory through His resurrection.
So don’t wait. Don’t put it off. If you have never said yes to Jesus Christ—do it now. Call on Him. Surrender your life to Him. Accept Him as your Lord and Savior today. Eternity is real, and this moment matters. Say yes to the Savior.
