The events of the first Holy Week changed the course of history, offering hope to those who, through faith in His sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection, are call Children of God.
Action: Humbly Reflect
Response: Humble Gratitude
John 12:12-15 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him shouting, “Hosanna” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written. “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.
It had been 400 years since the people had a prophet and now hope was returning as Jesus’ miracles and healing changed lives. Thousands of people lined the streets of Jerusalem to welcome this man they believed had come to rescue them from Rome’s cruel oppression and set up an earthly kingdom, reestablishing Israel as THE world’s authority and political power forever.
Palm branches are an ancient symbol of victory. These people were ready for radical change, but there were signs throughout Jesus’ ministry that His Kingship was not of this world. Even Jesus’ mode of transportation that day, a lowly donkey, opposed to a war horse, suggested an earthy rule for the settling of vendetta was not the plan, ever.
The kingdom being introduced was an eternal, universal state of being, not local or political in motivation. Just as Jesus’ birth was unadorned and humble, so would be the inauguration of God’s Kingdom. A good refocus of Kingdom priorities perpetuated by Jesus during His last few days are found in I Corinthians 13:1-10 and Galatians 5:22-23.