Palm Sunday — Hosanna to Our King
Day 87 of Photo Inspirations – Palm Sunday – Hosanna to Our King
At church, today, we’ll process into the sanctuary carrying palm branches as we celebrate Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, and depicting, somewhat, the Jesus “parade” when he came into Jerusalem – not on an elaborate float or carried on a King’s opulent throne or riding a magnificent white stallion, but on a donkey, followed by a motley crew of disciples and peasant followers. There were no loud brass bands playing triumphant music to acclaim the King’s arrival. There were just lowly pilgrims waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna”. Today, we set our hearts in motion to “being there” with those who had witnessed the miracles of Jesus, His kindness and love, and they just KNEW that He was their long-awaited King who would set all the things in order that had been in total chaos.
And, it was all a pre-planned event. None of it was an accident. Jesus knew what He was doing. He had arranged for a donkey and two of his disciples brought it to Him. Jesus set the stage for what we now call Holy Week and it would fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy spoken before and now referred to in Matthew 21:5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See your king comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”.
And, all that this day was, over 2,000 years ago, is still true in this 21st century. OUR King is coming. With what we have come to know as “pomp and circumstance” when it comes to kings and royalty, it isn’t so with King Jesus. He is a different kind of king. His throne isn’t about determination to rule; His is determination to serve. Where most royal figures spend time building their egos; His comes with total humility. While kings today ride in majestic and streamlined jets, King Jesus rode in on a donkey. And, He knew exactly what He was doing. He could have ridden in on a horse. Jesus rode a donkey, a symbol of meekness and peace. How different His entry was – not a 21-gun salute, but swishing of palm branches. The king’s death was accompanied by royal salutes and honored acclamations, but King Jesus knew His was to be a cross. Our King is a different King.
Not only did our King know precisely who He was when He entered Jerusalem, right now He knows who He is as He enters the Jerusalem of our lives. He healed the blind and lame. He touched people. He touched ALL people – those with rank, and those who were broken, rejected, and unloved. He never refused anyone who came to Him for help. He helped those with shattered dreams and bruised spirits. And the best news is….. He did it then; He does it now. That’s the kind of Lord He is! That’s the kind of KING He is! Today, He wants to transform us, touch our lives and make us new. He loves us so much that He was thinking about us then….and TODAY. Yes, we sing “Hosanna! Our King has come!