Celestial Diary

Today is Palm Sunday, a Christian holy day, not a holiday (see what I did there?) that commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent, leading up to Easter Sunday.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds of people spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road before Him, shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9). The palm branches symbolize victory and triumph, while the act of laying down cloaks was a gesture of honor and respect.

This event fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, which foretold the coming of Israel’s king: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.“

Palm Sunday serves as a reminder of Jesus’ kingship and the beginning of His journey to the cross. It is a time of joy and celebration mixed with the somber recognition of the events that would unfold in the days ahead.

Many of us are familiar with the flow of events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ. During Holy Week, Jesus was celebrated on Palm Sunday, betrayed on Thursday right after eating His last supper, and crucified on Friday. As the Son of God, He was fully aware of the events that would unfold, yet out of love for humanity, He embraced the sacrifice that lay ahead.

The story takes place during the feast of the Jewish Passover, an annual celebration commemorating their liberation from slavery in Egypt. Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to join in the festivities, where He was warmly welcomed by the gathered crowds

Isn’t it interesting how Jesus always had people around Him, whether in moments of honor or vulnerability? Just imagine being respected by many but knowing that a few were plotting against you. Jesus showed incredible forgiveness even after being betrayed and crucified.

The crowd that followed Jesus was fascinated by the miracles He performed and the stories He told. But when He was wrongly accused and sentenced to death, the same people who adored Him turned against Him. They insulted Him, spat on Him, and even threw stones at Him, forgetting how they had praised Him just days earlier by laying their clothes down for Him to walk over.

John 12:27-28
Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 
Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

This verse stung a bit because, despite being God, Jesus was human at that moment, just like us. He felt the pain that awaited Him.

As Christians, we often replicate the behavior of the crowd towards Jesus.

1. We honor Him and praise Jesus when it benefits us: God is a generous Father and a miracle worker, yet He isn’t a genie we can summon to fulfill our wishes. Can we pray to God without seeking a favor? Do we only remember His name in times of trouble? While we call upon Him as Jireh in our need, as Rapha for healing, or as Yeshua for salvation, how often do we simply approach Him as our Father, honoring the privilege of being His children?
2. We betray Him when His teachings challenge us: God sent His Son to save us from our sins and cleanse us from all iniquity. Yet, somehow, we persist in doing that which is forbidden. Every time we sin, it’s as if we’re crucifying Him all over again. We readily embrace His commandments when blessings follow, but when our wrongdoings are pointed out, we often get offended and distance ourselves. While we may not physically spit on Him or stone Him, we ridicule Him in other ways, making Christianity a mockery and giving the wrong impression to unbelievers. In failing to do as He asks, we diminish the importance and authority of the Almighty.

I’m not here to judge anyone or claim to be a perfect Christian, as we all know our own shortcomings. This upcoming week is solemn and spiritually significant, a time for us to reflect on and be grateful for His sacrifice, as well as consider what is expected of us.

Going forward let’s avoid behaving like the crowd, whose feelings and loyalty fluctuate based on convenience. As Christians, let’s follow Jesus’ example of unwavering commitment to God, regardless of the challenges we face.

I pray that God grants us the grace and strength to remain faithful to Him, so that we may also be His beloved children in whom He is well pleased.

Stay Blessed x