By: Eric M. Betts
The week between Palm Sunday and Good Friday is a journey from celebration to suffering, from public acclaim to apparent defeat. It is a story that resonates beyond Christian tradition—a story of courage in the face of shifting tides and hope that endures even in the deepest darkness.
Palm Sunday and Good Friday are bookends of a paradox: the same crowd that shouts, “Hosanna!” on one day will cry, “Crucify him!” just days later. Yet, woven into this narrative is a lesson that transcends faith traditions: the path of purpose often requires the courage to endure misunderstanding, rejection, and suffering. And yet, even in these moments, hope remains.
The Courage to Walk the Path
Palm Sunday is the moment of triumph. Jesus enters Jerusalem to the sound of cheers and waving palms, a sign of honor. But his courage is not found in the crowd’s approval; it is in his knowledge of what is to come. He rides in humility, not as a conqueror but as one who knows that his mission will lead him into suffering.
This journey reflects a truth familiar to many—there are moments when we are celebrated, when we feel the wind at our backs. But courage is tested not in applause, but in what happens after, when the same voices that once supported us fade or turn against us.
Jesus does not turn back. He does not reshape his mission to please the crowd. He walks forward, knowing that the road will lead to betrayal, trial, and ultimately, the cross. His courage is the kind that withstands the shifting nature of human loyalty, standing firm in truth rather than seeking security in popularity.
The Hope that Endures
Then comes Good Friday. The joyous cries of Palm Sunday have turned into the silence of abandonment. The very people who laid palm branches at Jesus’ feet have now left him to face his suffering alone. The world, at this moment, seems devoid of hope.
And yet, Good Friday is not the end. Even as Jesus breathes his last, the story is still unfolding. Hope is not destroyed by suffering—it is hidden within it.
This is a truth echoed in many traditions: the greatest transformations often come through pain. The seed that falls into the earth must die before it grows into something new. The night must come before the morning. Struggle and even apparent defeat can be the soil in which new life takes root.
The hope of Good Friday is not in avoiding suffering but in knowing that suffering is not the final word.
A Journey for Us All
The path from Palm Sunday to Good Friday is a path walked by many—by those who stand for justice in the face of opposition, by those who remain true to their purpose despite rejection, and by those who hold onto hope when all seems lost.
This story invites us to be people of both courage and hope. Courage to stand firm even when the crowd turns. Courage to walk forward even when suffering awaits. And hope that, no matter how dark the night, resurrection—new life, new beginnings—is always on the horizon.
From palms to the cross, the journey is not easy. But it is one worth taking.
By: Eric M. Betts, PhD
Hampton University School of Religion | Athens State University Coleman Center for Religion Leadership and Culture
April 4, 2025
