Holy WeekSample

Palm Sunday

Welcome to Holy Week. For Jesus and His disciples, this is the week they experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. From people’s adoration to public execution, we see the full spectrum of humanity's inclination to evil, and God’s redemptive love to save all.

For us, we get to join the global church and the billions who have gone before us in remembering the weight of this Gospel. This week, we will recall and reflect upon the wonder of Christ’s glory, His hope for humanity, and step out of this week with a renewed sense of awe in our lives.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, where Messianic expectations are subverted, and ancient promises are fulfilled. Palm Sunday, the preceding weekend of Easter Sunday, begins with expectations being completely turned around and promises beginning to come true.

For thousands of years, the Jewish people were awaiting a great king who would overthrow their oppressors and restore the glory once possessed by Ancient Israel. A major contributor to these beliefs came from Zechariah 9, which many assumed that this king would bring power by brute force and overthrow whatever regime was in his way. That’s a major reason for the celebrations of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem; the people thought Rome was about to be overthrown.

But what Jesus had planned was far greater and nothing like anyone’s expectations: to confront human evil head-on and become the crucified King of all creation. Where people expected Jesus to become the ruler of a nation, God planned for Him to become King of every human heart.

Reflection:

• Think of a time that God moved in your life in a way that didn't meet your expectations.
• Are there areas of your life that are not currently under Jesus' rule?
• Spend 5 minutes today talking to Jesus about this and declaring that He is Lord over those parts of your life.