Today marks the beginning of Holy Week, the week leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection. This is a week for reflection. I’m going to do seven posts on the last words of Christ. The prayer in each comes from Rev. Mark Roberts. I hope it directs you heart in reflection on the cross of Christ.
Palm Sunday is celebrated as the day when Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. As he rides into town, the people are shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus is a humble king. He doesn’t need the traditional fanfare on a horse, surrounded by servants & soldiers that a king in his day would have received. Jesus knows he is going to die. He knows what’s coming. And he chooses a simple entry into Jerusalem.
“Hosanna” means “save us”. The Jews were looking for a king to save them from the Romans. Did they realize it would take Jesus’ death for them to truly be saved – not from the Romans but from themselves & the power of sin?
The people lay down palm branches and their cloaks in the road as Jesus comes in. The palm symbolizes prosperity, beauty and victory. The people of Israel are looking for a king to rule their nation, not their hearts. How do we ascribe prosperity, beauty & victory to Jesus today? How do we allow Jesus to rule in our hearts?
As we enter this Holy Week, reflect on Christ’s journey, on his road to the cross. Check out the accounts of Palm Sunday:
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19
Don’t let this week pass by without reflection.
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