March 20 marks this year's Palm Sunday, every attendant in Yanjing Theological Seminary Chapel receives a gift-a palm cross, decorated with palm fronds both inside and outside.
According to church traditions, on this day Jesus triumphally entered into Jerusalem riding on a colt of donkey, and people cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road to welcome the coming of the savior, while on the following Friday of the said week, it was this crowd that cried to crucify Jesus.
Christians name this week as the Holy week and the Sunday before Easter as Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday to commemorate Jesus' cross.The special decoration of the chapel is for meditation on the Lord's cross.
On the service of Palm Sunday, Rev. Gao Ying introduces the origin of Palm Sunday and then leads the congregation to meditate on Jesus' cross in the sermon. She points out that the burden Jesus carried on the cross was not only physical pain but also pain from his disciples' betrayal. The disciples fell asleep while Jesus prayed with sweat like drops of blood. Why did the crowd who previously welcomed Jesus' coming kill him on Friday? Why did all the disciples that followed Jesus for three years run away?
Rev. Gao says the reason is that Jesus is not what they expected. People expected Messiah, a king who could lead them to fight battles but Jesus was like a gentle and humble lamb, a loser in people's eyes.
The dramatic turning proves that humans have sin that seeks fame, wealth and desires power. Sinners deserve judgement but Jesus paid the prices of sins for us, where Christ demonstrates his own love.
The cross becomes glory instead of humiliating. Thousands of people are attracted by the great love and take up their own crosses to follow Jesus in the hope of ressurected life.
