“They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!’” (Matthew 21:7-9 NIV)
In a few days, the Christian Church will celebrate Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week, one of the most sacred times of the Church Year. Many Christian churches begin this worship service with a joyful procession of palm branches, just as people did for Jesus on that first Palm Sunday.
Holy Week presents a striking and purposeful paradox, starting with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, climaxing with the cross and Jesus’ death on Good Friday, and quickly followed by His resurrection on Easter Sunday.
However, the crowd did not understand what they were asking for as they cheered “Hosanna” … which means “Save us!” They desired an earthly, political Messiah, an earthly king to rescue them from their Roman oppressors.
But what they needed – and what we need – is a spiritual King, a Lord and Savior to rescue us all from sin, death, and the devil.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey’s colt because He is the King of grace and mercy. He brings us the Kingdom of Heaven, a Kingdom of peace and love, by sacrificing Himself for the forgiveness of the sins of the world.
So, even though the crowd’s cheers were profoundly misunderstood, Jesus profoundly answered them in a way they did not expect: by taking all our suffering, sinfulness, and the death that we deserve onto Himself, and dying in our place on the cross.
The same voices that cried "Hosanna" that first Palm Sunday soon shouted "Crucify Him" that first Good Friday. This echoes the sinful nature in us all … the fickle nature that welcomes Jesus whenever He serves our earthly desires, but rejects Him when the cross demands our repentance and faithful surrender to Him.
Yet, the Gospel message is that Jesus came for everyone, even the people who abandoned Him.
In this coming Holy Week, we do not just remember a historical event; we walk with Jesus through His humiliation and passion for us. His story is not a tragedy, but a paradoxical triumph.
As you look at the palm branches this Sunday, remember that they point to Christ’s cross. He did not enter Jerusalem to be crowned with gold and jewels, but with thorns and blood. He did not sit on an elegant throne, but was hung on a cross to die.
He did this to win an eternal Heavenly Kingdom for us, one that no earthly power can ever take away. So, receive His grace and forgiveness by faith; receive salvation and eternal life.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(Published on the Devotional Page of the Alpine Avalanche Newspaper on Thurs, March 26, 2026)
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