soul journey 
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, a sacred journey toward the cross and ultimately, the resurrection. It is a day of celebration, of shouts of “Hosanna!”, and of waving palm branches—yet underneath the joy lies a deep and powerful truth about who Jesus truly is.
The Triumphal Entry
As Jesus approached Jerusalem, He sent two of His disciples ahead with a specific instruction:
“Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.” (Matthew 21:2)
Riding into the city on a donkey was not an accident or convenience—it was a fulfillment of prophecy:
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey…” (Zechariah 9:9)
This prophetic act declared that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. But not the kind of king people were expecting. He didn’t arrive on a war horse, as a conquering hero. He came humbly, in peace, as a Servant-King.
Crowds and “Hosanna!”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, crowds gathered, spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road—a sign of honor and welcome for royalty. They shouted:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9)
The word “Hosanna” means “save us now.” It was a cry of praise, but also a plea for deliverance. The people believed their long-awaited Savior had come. And He had—but not just to save them from political oppression or Roman rule. Jesus came to save them from sin and death itself.
A Kingdom Not of This World
In John 12:12-19, we’re told that even the disciples didn’t fully understand what was happening until later. The crowd rejoiced, the religious leaders grew more fearful, and the city buzzed with anticipation.
Jesus knew what lay ahead—He was entering Jerusalem not to claim a throne, but to carry a cross. His mission was not one of earthly conquest, but eternal redemption.
This moment on Palm Sunday reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways. His victory doesn’t always look like triumph in human eyes. It often comes through humility, service, and even suffering.
What Palm Sunday Teaches Us Today
Palm Sunday is more than a historical event—it’s an invitation:
- To recognize Jesus as the true King, not just of the world, but of our hearts.
- To surrender our expectations and embrace His will, even when it looks different than we imagined.
- To join the crowd in shouting “Hosanna!”—both as praise and as a cry for His saving power in our lives today.
Final Thought
As we wave our palms and remember the road Jesus traveled into Jerusalem, may we welcome Him into our lives with the same reverence and joy. And may we also follow Him with the same humility He showed—trusting that His way, though unexpected, always leads to life.
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13)
