Day 1 - Palm Sunday
The King entered on a donkey, humble, unexpected, and far from what anyone imagined a king should look like. The people of Jerusalem were waiting for a ruler who would come in power, overthrow oppression, and restore their nation. Instead, Jesus came in gentleness and peace.
What seemed unusual then, we now recognise as deeply significant, the beginning of the greatest act of love in history. He accepted the praise of the crowd, fully knowing that many of those same voices shouting “Hosanna” would soon cry out for His crucifixion. He received their worship, knowing He would also bear their sin.
In Scripture, palm branches symbolise victory and triumph. As the people laid down their garments and spread palm branches on the road (Matthew 21:8), they shouted, “Hosanna,” meaning “save us, we pray.” But their understanding of salvation was limited. They longed for freedom from their current physical circumstances, from Roman rule, from hardship. Jesus, however, came for something far greater.
His arrival fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey”. But He wasn’t coming to establish an earthly kingdom, as He later said in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world.” His mission was not physical or political, it was eternal. He came, not to rescue them from Rome, but to rescue humanity from sin.
What the crowd didn’t realise was that the path they lined with palm branches would lead to a cross. The same King who was welcomed with celebration would soon wear a crown of thorns. But this was never a tragedy outside of God’s control; it was always His miraculous plan of redemption. From the very beginning, God’s heart was to save His beloved children, even at the highest cost.
Isaiah 53:5 reminds us that, “But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”
Jesus didn’t win victory by taking lives, He did so by giving His own. He achieved the ultimate victory over sin and death. Palm Sunday, then, is more than a historical moment, it is a call to reflection that challenges us to examine our own hearts. The same question remains for us today:
Do I praise Him only when my circumstances align with my expectations, or do I trust Him even when His ways are different than I imagined?
Because true faith recognises that even when God’s plan looks unexpected, it is always perfect. True victory is not found in temporary relief, but in eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Let this be our prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Jesus, our humble King, who chose the cross so we could have life.
Help us to follow You for who You are, not just for what You do. Strengthen our faith, so our praise remains steady in every season.
Teach us to trust Your plans and remind us that true victory is found in You alone.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
What seemed unusual then, we now recognise as deeply significant, the beginning of the greatest act of love in history. He accepted the praise of the crowd, fully knowing that many of those same voices shouting “Hosanna” would soon cry out for His crucifixion. He received their worship, knowing He would also bear their sin.
In Scripture, palm branches symbolise victory and triumph. As the people laid down their garments and spread palm branches on the road (Matthew 21:8), they shouted, “Hosanna,” meaning “save us, we pray.” But their understanding of salvation was limited. They longed for freedom from their current physical circumstances, from Roman rule, from hardship. Jesus, however, came for something far greater.
His arrival fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey”. But He wasn’t coming to establish an earthly kingdom, as He later said in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world.” His mission was not physical or political, it was eternal. He came, not to rescue them from Rome, but to rescue humanity from sin.
What the crowd didn’t realise was that the path they lined with palm branches would lead to a cross. The same King who was welcomed with celebration would soon wear a crown of thorns. But this was never a tragedy outside of God’s control; it was always His miraculous plan of redemption. From the very beginning, God’s heart was to save His beloved children, even at the highest cost.
Isaiah 53:5 reminds us that, “But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”
Jesus didn’t win victory by taking lives, He did so by giving His own. He achieved the ultimate victory over sin and death. Palm Sunday, then, is more than a historical moment, it is a call to reflection that challenges us to examine our own hearts. The same question remains for us today:
Do I praise Him only when my circumstances align with my expectations, or do I trust Him even when His ways are different than I imagined?
Because true faith recognises that even when God’s plan looks unexpected, it is always perfect. True victory is not found in temporary relief, but in eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Let this be our prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Jesus, our humble King, who chose the cross so we could have life.
Help us to follow You for who You are, not just for what You do. Strengthen our faith, so our praise remains steady in every season.
Teach us to trust Your plans and remind us that true victory is found in You alone.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Posted in Day One
Recent
Archive
2026
March