It’s hard to believe, but we are already at the end of March. This year is going so quickly. But isn’t it exciting today to be celebrating Palm Sunday? And if today is Palm Sunday, Easter is upon us as well.

Today, we believe, marks the day in history in which Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. The day that led Jesus to His final week as the Incarnate on this earth. And what a day it was!

Jesus knew what His week would hold. Joy and laughter at the beginning with tears and sorrow at the end. Acceptance to rejection. Reception to abandonment. Believers to unbelievers. Worshipers to mockers. Triumph to defeat. This would be a difficult week. And Jesus knew it.

But Jesus also knew how the story would end. And because of His victory over death and sin, Jesus was able to endure the week ahead.

There was a great feast in Jerusalem. The city was filled with faithful feast observing Jews and this was Jesus’ opportunity to share His message one last time to the great crowds. There wasn’t much time left and Jesus needed to make the most of it. Jerusalem was the perfect place to be.

As they approached Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead to bring a colt for Him to ride. His instructions to these two were very specific in Matthew and vague in John, but the task was the same.

“Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her side. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” (Matthew 21:2-3 – NIV)

Jesus’ transportation was prepared. The crowds were also prepared. When they saw Jesus riding the colt, they threw their cloaks on the ground. Some had branches they had harvested and placed them on the ground as well.

Then the shouting began. “Hosanna! Hosanna!” The multitude praised Jesus. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The group confirmed that Jesus was from God. “Blessed is the King of Israel!” The great crowd acknowledged Jesus as King (John 12:13 – NIV)

Oh, the scene must have been glorious. No king before Jesus had received such a welcome. No king before Jesus had been God’s Son, sent for a purpose. The purpose of saving mankind from their sinful nature.

After this event, each Gospel shares just a little more for us to capture the scene. Matthew tells us that the “city was stirred” and wanted to know who this person was. The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:10-11 – NIV)

Mark mentions that “Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.” (Mark 11:11 – NIV)

In Luke, some of Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to rebuke His disciples. Jesus replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:39-40 – NIV)

And finally in John, we see the disciples reaction. “At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” (John 12:16 – NIV)

I wonder how confused I might have been had I been there that day. If I had been a faithful follower of Jesus from the beginning of His ministry. Would I too, not understand it? Probably. But what joy I would have felt had I been in the midst of the crowd, praising Jesus as King and honoring Him in this way.

Jesus was certainly praised and honored on this day, but God was glorified. For the Son was doing exactly as the Father had asked. In Jesus’ words, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (John 17:1 – NIV)

And just as Jesus glorified the Father, we too are to glorify God in all that we do. Listen to Jesus’ words from Matthew 5:16 (NIV), “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

And we also find Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV). “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

So this week as we prepare for the remembrance and celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, let’s remember that we are to bring glory to God in all that we do. God must be honored. God must be praised.

“Hosanna! Hosanna!”

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna