Today is Palm Sunday. It has me thinking about the profound experience that surrounded Jesus that day, on the very first Palm Sunday, thousands of years ago. The crowd, the celebration, the excitement. Jesus was being welcomed into Jerusalem as a highly honored miracle worker. The people were reveling all He had done.
As I thought about this, and sipped my morning coffee, there was a song that came to mind. “Hosanna” by Hillsong Worship. I searched for it and as the song began to play, I was overcome by God’s goodness and mercy. Tears filled my eyes….the intense reality of all that Jesus was about to face came to mind.
Pondering that moment and the weight of the reality, I wondered what it was like for Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. The crowd was excitedly shouting, “Hosanna, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Laying their clothing on the dirt at His feet, they waved palm branches and cheered. He was being celebrated and welcomed in reverence and awe.
How did Jesus, in that holy moment, conceal His breaking heart? I can only imagine the pain He was already enduring as the crowd pushed and gathered around Him, hoping to get a closer look at this astonishing man of miracles. Jesus, gentle and riding on a donkey, knew that in just a few short days, those cheering people would turn instead to jeering. He knew their affection was going to change to distain. Was He already grieving the truth that the joyful admirers would soon trade their loving admiration for hateful disgust and cry out ,“Crucify him!”?
There are many things left to wonder about that moment. Yet, there is one thing I am staunchly confident about. I wholeheartedly believe that in that moment – as holy week began, knowing He would soon face death on a cross – that He not only intimately saw each person in that massive crowd, but I am confident that He also saw me. I believe my face flashed before Him. I believe that your face flashed before Him. And I believe that the love He felt for each and every one of us was the profound motivation that moved Him forward to the devastating death on the cross.
We – you, me and all of humanity – were the “joy set before him” on that day. His indescribable love for us, compelled Him to endure the cross. To be the ultimate sacrifice for our sin and reconcile us to the Father.
Hebrews 12:2 says,
“… For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
For the joy set before him was us!
Hosanna! The King of Kings! We were on His mind.
As He was lead through that crowd on a colt of a donkey, He saw me. He saw my face cheering in that crowd. He saw me turning away to sin. He saw my grievous mistakes and failures. And, He saw my redemption. He saw love. He determined it was worth it. For me and for you and your unique circumstance. He saw it all. And He said, yes!
There is no greater love than that!
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13
As we enter into Holy Week, may we purpousfully remember how deeply He loves us! May we all respond to His great love and sacrifice by laying down our own life for Him.
If you would like a list of scriptures to read this week I will include that below.
Happy Holy Week, Friends!
Be blessed!
~ Stephanie
For His Glory, By His Grace 