“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!’” — John 12:12-13 (NKJV)
Palm Sunday reminds us of a very big moment: Jesus, the long-awaited King, riding into Jerusalem… on a donkey. Not exactly the grand entrance you might expect for the Savior of the world. No royal chariots. No mighty stallions. Just a humble, slightly stubborn donkey who probably needed some coaxing to keep moving through the shouting crowds.
And yet, the people went wild — waving palm branches like foam fingers at a ball game, shouting “Hosanna!” They were ready for a King to overthrow Rome, turn the system upside down, and fix everything right then and there.
What they didn’t realize was that Jesus came to fix something much bigger than their politics — He came to fix hearts. Instead of a revolution in the streets, Jesus launched a revolution of grace. Instead of a throne of gold, He chose a cross of wood.
It’s easy to cheer for Jesus when we think He’s here to do things our way. It’s a little harder when He invites us to follow His way — the way of humility, surrender, and sometimes, yes, waiting.
Maybe you’ve found yourself waving palm branches one day and wondering where He went the next. That’s okay. Jesus is still King, even when He doesn’t meet our expectations. He doesn’t always fix our problems overnight, but He always works on us — shaping us into people who reflect His love.
Pray this prayer with me this week:
Lord, sometimes we act like the crowd — excited when You do what we want, frustrated when You don’t. Help us to trust You even when the journey looks different than we imagined. Teach us to lay down our expectations, and pick up Your peace. Thank You for riding into our messy lives, even when we’re waving palm branches with one hand and making plans with the other. We love You, King Jesus. Amen.
Blessings!
Pastor Jonathan W. Pannell III
Rev. Jonathan W. Pannell III 