| On this Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, we celebrate Palm Sunday, so named in reference to palm branches laid on the ground before Jesus as He made His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11).
This moment is difficult not to be swept up into.
We read of crowds waving palm branches before Jesus, symbols of victory in the Roman world.
We notice people laying their cloaks on the ground as He comes toward them, an ancient sign of submission (2 Kings 9:13).
We see Jesus riding in on a donkey, a meek and humble creature.
Put the palms, cloaks, and a donkey together, and we get an insight into the character of Jesus of Nazareth:
He had accomplished so much in three short years that people were chanting “Hosanna,” or save us.
They named him “David’s son,” a reference to their greatest king (imagine if crowds today called one of our president’s “Lincoln’s heir”).
And yet, while He doesn’t refuse praise (to the chagrin of the religious leaders), He rides to the nation’s capital city on a donkey and doesn’t evict the Romans (to the disappointment of the crowds).
What does He do?
He makes a beeline to the Jewish temple, where He heals bodies.
He’s kingly, but He’s kind.
He clears moneychangers out of the temple, insisting all peoples should be able to worship God there.
He gets mad, but He’s no military ruler.
He’s immensely powerful, but completely humble.
No wonder humanity didn’t know what to do with Him.
Do you?
Do I?
This Palm Sunday, as we gather to worship the God-man Jesus, allow this question to sink down:
What will I do with someone like Jesus?
My prayer is that unlike the Pharisees, who insisted the crowds quiet down, we would shout all the louder like the blind beggars on the side of the road, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on us” (Matt 20:30).
Morgan Stephens
Lead Pastor
P.S. We are looking forward to our Easter weekend, with Good Friday services and extra Sunday services at both Austin campuses as well! You can find them here:
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