After Palm Sunday, Jesus Wasn't Nice

People as much as ever see ‘being nice’ as a high value, sometimes among leftist values, called “being kind.” Essentially it means, tolerate unfavorable behavior. Palm Sunday was the day of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, offering Himself as King. However, He road on a donkey colt, communicating His humility in line with His unique kingdom.

The palm part speaks of palm fronds, those gigantic branches or leaves that come from date palm trees. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, multitudes of people, including children, threw down these palms in front of His animal as He rode. They were receiving Him as King. What an event for Jesus!! It would seem that Jesus could have grabbed that momentum and turned it into a possession of power. However, Jesus did not need power. He already had all of it. He came to do His Father’s will.

The great need of the people was not defeat of the Roman Empire. Instead of “being nice” or “being kind,” Jesus first confronted the Pharisees. He did not attempt to win them as friends or pander to their desires, which He could have used to elevate Himself. Instead Jesus pronounced seven woes against the scribes and Pharisees, which were formal curses against them. In that way, Jesus showed His power, because only with that authority could He make such pronouncements against them. It was the furthest from a friendly dialogue. He denounced them and brought more hatred upon himself, leading to His substitutionary, sacrificial death on the cross.