Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11 -
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
God often defies our expectations and assumptions but, His plans are ultimately better than our own. This is the concept that I always come back to when I think about Palm Sunday and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He didn't come as the people expected. Instead of riding a majestic warhorse, He chose a humble donkey. Rather than being praised by the religious elite, He was celebrated by the common people. He entered as a peaceful King, not a military conqueror. Jesus defied expectations as the Messiah. Many anticipated a political savior, but Jesus came to bring something far greater—spiritual salvation.
God's plans often exceed our own. The people in Jesus' time wanted a quick fix, a political savior to free them from Roman oppression. But Jesus came to offer eternal salvation, a long-term transformation that would change lives forever. When Jesus doesn't meet our expectations, it's often because He has something greater in mind.
This reminds me of biblical stories like Joseph, who went from being a slave to a savior for his people. Or Ruth, who unexpectedly played a crucial role in God's redemptive plan. And David, who rose from a shepherd boy to a king. Their stories show that God's plans are superior to our limited vision.
Trusting God in the midst of unexpected turns can be challenging. I know I've struggled when life doesn't go as I planned. It's easy to question God's goodness and sovereignty when things feel out of control. But I'm learning to rely on His faithfulness, clinging to promises like Romans 8:28, which assures us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
As I surrender my expectations to God, I'm discovering the benefits of trusting Him. Peace in the midst of uncertainty. Growth in my faith and character. A stronger relationship with my Heavenly Father. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it.
So, my challenge to you today is this: embrace God's unexpected ways. When life takes a detour, choose to trust His perfect plan. Release your grip on your own expectations and let God exceed them with His goodness. As we celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, may we also celebrate the joy of surrendering to His perfect purposes, even when they defy our expectations.
God's plans often exceed our own. The people in Jesus' time wanted a quick fix, a political savior to free them from Roman oppression. But Jesus came to offer eternal salvation, a long-term transformation that would change lives forever. When Jesus doesn't meet our expectations, it's often because He has something greater in mind.
This reminds me of biblical stories like Joseph, who went from being a slave to a savior for his people. Or Ruth, who unexpectedly played a crucial role in God's redemptive plan. And David, who rose from a shepherd boy to a king. Their stories show that God's plans are superior to our limited vision.
Trusting God in the midst of unexpected turns can be challenging. I know I've struggled when life doesn't go as I planned. It's easy to question God's goodness and sovereignty when things feel out of control. But I'm learning to rely on His faithfulness, clinging to promises like Romans 8:28, which assures us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
As I surrender my expectations to God, I'm discovering the benefits of trusting Him. Peace in the midst of uncertainty. Growth in my faith and character. A stronger relationship with my Heavenly Father. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it.
So, my challenge to you today is this: embrace God's unexpected ways. When life takes a detour, choose to trust His perfect plan. Release your grip on your own expectations and let God exceed them with His goodness. As we celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, may we also celebrate the joy of surrendering to His perfect purposes, even when they defy our expectations.
- The Triumphal Entry story challenges our assumptions and expectations about how God works. It reveals that God's ways are often surprising and countercultural. How have you experienced God working in your life in unexpected ways that challenged your assumptions or expectations?
- Trusting God when life doesn't go according to plan can be difficult. It requires faith to believe that God's purposes are ultimately good, even when we don't understand them. What are some practical ways we can cultivate trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even in the midst of unexpected or challenging circumstances?
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