Palm Branches in Her Hand

Today—Palm Sunday—we celebrated Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He, the King of kings, entered the Holy City on a lowly beast of burden. The crowds took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out:

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” [John 12:13]

Amidst all the Hosannas and palms, the solemn readings and Lenten hymns, the Divine Service and Lord’s Supper, my thought were partially elsewhere. Two months ago today our gracious God called my mother home to Himself. How could I not think of her? Two months. And Palm Sunday to boot. After all, we here on earth weren’t the only ones holding palm branches and rejoicing in Christ’s salvation. So was she. That’s the beauty of our life in Christ. It doesn’t end in death.

Saint John was given a glimpse of what my mother—and all those who fall asleep in Christ—are up to around God’s throne. This is what he saw:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [Revelation 7:9-10]

Christ is your Savior too. He came to “hosanna” you, to save you from your sins. That’s why He entered Jerusalem. That’s why He allowed Himself to be betrayed, arrested, denied, accused, beaten, crowned with thorns, and crucified. For you!

On this side of death, we are privileged to wave our palm branches to the Lord who comes to us hidden in water, words, bread, and wine, even as we sing His praises. On the other side of death, we are again privileged to wave our palm branches, this time before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white robes, even as we sing His praises.

So, despite the loss I suffered two months ago, it was a joyous day. My mother was gathered around the same Lamb, the same Redeemer, the same Savior we were at Divine Shepherd. And she has palm branches in her hand too. That’s the beauty of our life in Christ. It begins here and now and continues for all eternity. Thanks be to God!