If you’re JUST here for the short answer to what’s the difference between Palm Sunday
and Easter Sunday.
It’s pretty simple—Christians celebrate Palm Sunday on the Sunday just before Easter
Sunday each year, with both of these holidays being centered around the death and resurrection
of Jesus.
BUT, if you REALLY want to understand the difference between these two holidays and
why they’re important to Christians, stick around!
If you asked people to name the most POPULAR Christian holiday, they’d probably say it’s
Christmas.
Despite this, what most people don’t know is that Easter is arguably THE most important
observation in the Christian religion.
But why?
There are tons of different groups of people who call themselves Christians, but the thing
they all have in common is the belief that Jesus Christ died as a redeemer for sins of
all of mankind.
Let’s take a look at how the Bible explains the reason for Jesus (the Son of man) coming
into the world in both Matthew Chapter 20 verse 28 and Mark Chapter 10 verse 45…
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give
his life a ransom for many.”
KJV Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28
In other words, Christians believe that Jesus gave his life as a ransom in exchange for
the lives of many people.
And the observations of Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday are about acknowledging what is arguably
THE MOST IMPORTANT tenant of Christianity—that Jesus died for mankind’s sins.
Palm Sunday is the beginning of the Holy Week, and celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
before he was crucified and then resurrected.
The Holy Week ends with a celebration of Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
Let’s take a closer look at both Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday…
The story of Palm Sunday can be found in John Chapter 12, verses 12 through 16…
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus
was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and
cried out: “Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’[d]
The King of Israel!”
14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”[e]
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified,
then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these
things to Him.
Matthew 12:12-16 NKJV
Holy Week ends with Easter, celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from death after his crucifixion.
We can find this story in the New Testament’s Gospel of Mark, Chapter 16.
16 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the motherof James, and Salome bought
spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when
the sun had risen.
3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb
for us?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very
large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on
the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed.
You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He is risen!
He is not here.
See the place where they laid Him.
7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there
you will see Him, as He said to you.”
8 So they went out quickly[a] and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed.
And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom He had cast seven demons.
10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Easter celebrations vary among Christians, with different customs, including church services,
reenactments of the story of Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection, among other
things.
So, that’s the difference between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday!
Of course, there’s no way that we can cover all of the details about Palm Sunday and Easter
Sunday in a short video, but this summary of the two holidays that many Christians around
the world celebrate will give you a general idea about the difference between Palm Sunday
and Easter Sunday.
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