Check back each Monday for a short devotional to help you start the week off well.
“And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
(Mark 11:7-10)
Jesus’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem is often called Palm Sunday. It is always the Sunday before Easter. But did you know that there was definitely a military significance to what Jesus was doing that day?
The Jews were mistakenly expecting the Messiah to be a military warrior. Jesus kept trying to correct this misconception during the three years of his ministry. This day he has a chance to address it symbolically.
In those days, if a combatant commander rode into a city on horseback, it meant he was coming as a conqueror. However, if he rode in on colt (which is a young donkey), it meant that he was coming in peace. What message was Jesus relaying to the people around him by riding in on a donkey?
The crowd throwing clothing before Jesus symbolized their submission to him. The branches represented Jewish nationalism and victory. What was the audience saying to Jesus based upon what they spread on his path? If you were there that day, what would you have laid down? Why?
The word ‘hosanna’ roughly translates to, “praise the One who has come to save us.” Why were the people shouting this to Jesus? What would you have cried out to him that day?
If you ever doubt how much Jesus loves you, then remember how he voluntarily rode into Jerusalem, knowing that to bring us forgiveness and peace, he had to die a cruel death for our sins.
