Palm Sunday 2021

The Triumphal Entry is an event on the church calendar that churches around the globe look forward to celebrating.  Waving palm branches, shouting Hosannas and singing powerful songs to our coming King…what’s not to love? 

For Jesus, I wonder if it was something else.  For Him, it was an inauguration to priestly duties and offering the ultimate sacrifice, suffering in His flesh for the sins of mankind.  His view of that celebratory day must have been flavored by seeing people cheer who He knew would turn on Him by the week’s end.  How strange it must have felt.  Sad, too.  The fickleness and hypocrisy of mankind.  The very people He was sent to save, celebrate now, but would reject Him before long.

Matthew 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Today’s meditation focus:
What the Triumphal Entry meant to Jesus.

This year’s Lent Devotional Series “But God…” resumes tomorrow after today’s Sabbath rest to meditate and worship.