Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, which marks the final days leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. On this day, we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where he was welcomed with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna!"
As we reflect on this event, we see that the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus as a king, but not the kind of king they were expecting. They were hoping for a political leader who would overthrow the oppressive Roman government and restore their nation to power. However, Jesus had come to establish a different kind of kingdom, one that was not of this world.
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of prophecy, and it was a declaration of his identity as the Messiah. He was not the kind of king they were expecting, but he was the king they needed. He came to save his people from their sins and to establish a kingdom that would last forever.
As we reflect on this event, we can ask ourselves: do we welcome Jesus as our king? Do we recognize him as the Messiah who came to save us from our sins? Or do we have our own expectations of what we want Jesus to be?
Let us welcome Jesus into our hearts and lives as the true king and Messiah. Let us lay down our own expectations and surrender to his will. And let us remember that just as the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna," we too can welcome him into our lives with open hearts and voices of praise.
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9, ESV)
