A Great Visual From Pastor Chris for Palm Sunday

I heard the most beautiful Palm Sunday lesson recently—one so simple and powerful that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

A Simple Palm Sunday Lesson for Kids

If you’re looking for a way to help children (and honestly, adults too) understand the meaning behind Palm Sunday and the word “Hosanna,” this little object lesson is one I’ll be holding onto.

This simple Palm Sunday lesson for kids is something you can do anywhere—at home, at church, or even on the go.

When my brothers both lived smack-dab in the middle of Manhattan with their families, they had a special visitor at church on Palm Sunday. His name was Pastor Chris, visiting from Broadway Presbyterian Church. And he was the speaker for sacrament meeting.

First of all, I LOVE that their church congregation invited someone from a different faith to be the speaker on Palm Sunday. There is so much good leading up to Easter in religions of all kinds. I mean, if you are a follower of Jesus, how beautiful to learn every way possible to celebrate the gift of His atonement and resurrection? We have so much to learn from each other.

Anyway, I loved the recounted tale of Pastor Chris’s talk on Palm Sunday from my brother.

What Pastor Chris Shared on Palm Sunday

Pastor Chris stood up and asked, specifically the kids in the chapel, where their palms were. I mean, they live in NYC where apparently it isn’t uncommon to see people carrying palm fronds around the city.

The kids (and adults) looked at each other, a little confused. Palms? Should we have brought some here?

Then he smiled and told them he didn’t see any palms from trees, but that guess what? They each had two palms, and he held up the palms of his hands showing them to the audience.

He explained that our own palms are such a beautiful reminder of not only how we can help Jesus, but how we can remember Him.

What Does “Hosanna” Mean?

After he talked about those palms, he proceeded to talk about the beautiful word “Hosanna” that we often use around Easter. He explained, again this was directed to the children, in terms they could understand, what it means.

In the dictionary the word Hosanna is defined as a “cry of acclamation and adoration.”

In Hebrew from the Bible, it means “save, please.”

A Simple Object Lesson Using Your Hands

So, Pastor Chris explained that Hosanna has two meanings. It is both a request for HELP, and also a cry of THANKS.

He took a minute and wrote those two words in Sharpie on his two palms and then held them up. He encouraged the kids in the congregation to do the same. To which, my brother told me his kids were quite delighted.

Here’s my own version as a reminder on my palms:

Why This Palm Sunday Lesson Matters

This simple lesson is such a great reminder that Hosanna, quite simply, is what Easter is all about.

When we think of the atonement, the words “Help” and “Thanks” fit so perfectly in tandem.

“Help Us!” We cry. Because we know we need saving.

“Thank you!” We also cry. Because we know we cannot be saved without Him.

The One who made that triumphal entry into Jerusalem all those years ago.

Painting by Mike Moyers

How to Use This Palm Sunday Idea with Your Family

Take the time to sit down and write, with a Sharpie even, on your children’s hands. Or even better, have them write on their own hands. Kids will eat this up and this lesson will come alive for them.

It’s so simple it could be done before an Easter egg hunt or at family dinner.

Take time to talk about those simple words, Help and Thank.

And how those two words together are what we are asking for when the people shouted “Hosanna” when Jesus made His triumphal entry.

Symbolism of the Palms of our own Hands

That visual written on the palms of hands is such a good reminder to me.

I, like everyone in that congregation where Pastor Chris was teaching that day, have two palms. May they remind me to humble myself and ask for HELP.

I can also use them to THANK. I can praise God with them in so many ways as I serve others and reach Up.

Palms on Palm Sunday

I think I’m going to bring my own palm fronds to church on Sunday. I mean, we live in the desert after all! But maybe, more important, I’ll bring my own two palms and use them to welcome and love the members of my congregation that much better.

Because that’s what church is all about: a group of imperfect people trying to lift each other as they strive to become more like Jesus.

The one we celebrate.

Thank you, Pastor Chris, your thoughts were powerful.

I love how something so simple—just the palms of our own hands—can hold such powerful meaning. A reminder to ask for help, and a reminder to give thanks.

This Palm Sunday, I hope I can carry both with me a little more intentionally as I remember the Savior and the love He offers each of us.

Hosanna!

More Holy Week IDeas for Families

• Traditions that Make Easter Special
• Another Palm Sunday Lesson Plan
• Eggs Benedict — our traditional Easter (and Christmas) breakfast
• How To Make Holy Week More Holy