This Sunday is Palm Sunday: a day that commemorates when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowds shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” -Mark 11:9-10
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of what is known as Holy Week. A time when many Christians reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for our sins. But on Palm Sunday, we remember the excitement and joy that the people of Jerusalem felt when they saw Jesus—The Messiah riding into the city.
The people believed that Jesus was the long-awaited King who would save them from their oppressors and restore the kingdom of Israel. They waved palm branches and shouted praises to Jesus, welcoming Him as a conquering hero.
But we know that Jesus’ mission was not to conquer through power and might, but through love and sacrifice. He came to save us from our sins and offer us eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Jesus is our King, not in a political sense, but in a spiritual sense. He reigns in our hearts and minds, guiding us and leading us on the path of righteousness.
The unfortunate reality is that the excitement and joy the people of Jerusalem felt that day was only temporary. When Jesus did not meet their expectations as a political or military leader, many of them turned against Him and called for His crucifixion.
My prayer it that we are people who always remain faithful to Jesus, even when He doesn’t meet our expectations. His ways are not our ways and His ways aren’t always going to look the way we want them to. But we don’t praise Him for doing what we want Him to do, we praise Him because He is the King of Kings—Who is worthy of our praise. May our cry today and every day be, “Hosanna in the Highest!”
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