Picture this: A crowd buzzing with emotion, including confusion, excitement, expectancy. Questions are being whispered from person to person, “who is this?” “What is going on?”
Regardless of what they knew or what they believed, when Jesus rode the colt down the road, the whole city was shaken (Matthew 21:10).
Shaken.
Only later would they find that all of what was happening was the fulfillment of a prophesy spoken long ago:
“‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” (Zecharia 9:9)
I imagine the exhilaration these people felt as the man they’ve heard so much about approached them. The man who spoke words so radical, who performed miracles unlike anything they’d seen, the man who was different than anyone they’ve ever encountered, was coming towards them.
I imagine their excitement as they shout, “Look! He’s coming!! Jesus is coming!”
“Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat.” (Matt. 21:8)
People were understanding it.. this man, He was worth honoring, even if they didn’t exactly know why yet.
They shouted as He rode by:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”
(Matthew 21:9)
“Hosanna!” they shouted.
Hosanna which means, “SAVE US!”
I can’t help but feel like many of our souls are crying out this same thing today, too. “Hosanna! Jesus, please save us!”
I’m reminded today, on this Palm Sunday, that we can expect pain and suffering.
It’s going to happen, and it’s going to hurt like hell.
I’m also reminded that through the pain and chaos we can stand in expectancy, with hope, and with joy and say, “look! It’s Jesus! He’s coming!!!”
Because He’s coming back.
Welcome to Holy Week, friends.
I pray we will collectively quiet our hearts and minds and focus on Jesus. That we will understand what took place during this week.
I pray that we will lament, grieve, ache and feel the pain we may be experiencing.
We need to.
I pray that we will also remember that suffering is not how this ends.
Victory is.
Don’t forget that.
Don’t forget what’s already been done. Don’t forget the end of the story has already been written.
Jesus already did save us.
~Kelli Bachara, The Unraveling Blog