Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 24, 2024
John 12:12-19
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him. They shouted, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 Don’t be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look! Your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt. 16 His disciples didn’t understand these things at first. After he was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 The crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were testifying about him. 18 That’s why the crowd came to meet him because they had heard about this miraculous sign that he had done. 19 Therefore, the Pharisees said to each other, “See! You’ve accomplished nothing! Look! The whole world is following him!”
Good Morning! Hosanna in the Highest!
We’ve heard the story of the triumphal entry so many times. Each year, for Palm Sunday, we wave our palms and pledge allegiance to the King of Kings, the Son of Man. We condemn the Pharisees who are unable to see the Messiah who stands before them, and we prepare for Jesus last week as an earthly being.
Yet, on this day, not one of those in attendance recognizes and appreciates what is about to happen. The act of Jesus riding into town on the donkey reinforces the idea of an earthly king. The King who has come to save them. This misunderstanding is a necessary part of the drama. The crowds who shout Hosanna on this day believe Jesus will save them in the expected way. Jesus will overthrow the Roman rulers and restore the Jewish Kingdom.
The Pharisees do a masterful job in their role to sway the crowds into seeing Jesus as the enemy because five days later the crowds are shouting, “Crucify Him!” We become fixated on how they could be so blind, but if Jesus isn’t crucified, then He can not save God’s children because He is our heavenly King, not our earthly one. Without the death of Jesus, God’s power over death would not be revealed.
On this Palm Sunday, as we wave our palms and shout Hosanna, may we begin to connect the dots of Jesus’ teachings. Later in this passage, Jesus says, “24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. We get lost in the pomp and circumstance of the parade. Open our hearts to see beyond the palms. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Look for Jesus who enters our lives in a new way.
Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord! Pastor Liz