Palm Sunday | JOY for Today

Palm Sunday, a day when throngs of people gathered to welcome their savior, abounds in JOY, yet it comes with a shadow. We know by week's end Jesus undergoes crucifixion. We know it was people like us that voted for Him to die. We know what it means to blame our failed expectations on a meek and humble savior. While a solemn time of reflection, consider the sacrifice He willingly made on your behalf. He would do it again if it were only for you and that, my friends, should bring you great JOY.

Palm trees in the background with text overlay that reads "Palm Sunday; April 10, 2022; Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey; Matthew 21:5 NKJV
Photo from pxhere

Palm Sunday Offerings:


Did You Know:

  1. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week? Holy week is an eight-day journey of remembering the events and revealed prophecies leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
  2. Palm Sunday honors Jesus claiming his place as Messiah? Jews memorized biblical prophecy and knew Zechariah foretold the Messiah would arrive riding a donkey, which is precisely what Jesus did as he entered Jerusalem.
  3. Palms are a symbol of victory? Annually, the Israelites built and dwelt in palm branch huts for seven days to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles served to remind the Israelites of their deliverance from Egypt (Leviticus 23:40-43). Commonly depicted on coins and prominent buildings, palm branches were also carved into King Solomon's temple (I Kings 6:29).  In Revelation 7:9, a numerous diverse crowd greets the Lamb before the throne with palm branches to declare that salvation comes from God and the Lamb. When the citizens of Jerusalem wave their palm branches at Jesus, they are declaring He is their Messiah and are putting their hope in Him for a victorious salvation.
  4. The donkey symbolized peace, judgement, and relief? 
    • PEACE: To ride in on a strong stallion would be a proclamation of war. By riding on a donkey, Jesus communicates His reign will be one of peace. 
    • JUDGEMENT: Balaam's donkey warned the prophet of disobedience (Numbers 22); Samson used a donkey's jawbone to defeat the Philistines (Judges 15:15-17); after Jesus' entry He turns over the money changers' tables in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13). 
    • RELIEF: Donkeys loaded with gifts to prevent wrath were commonly used in the Old Testament (I Samuel 25:18-26) and Jesus is the ultimate gift that fulfills divine consequence (Romans 6:23). Furthermore, the donkey, a burden bearer, symbolizes Jesus' intent to bear the burdens of all people, especially the overlooked and oppressed (Isaiah 58:6; Matthew 11:28-30; Isaiah 46:4; Psalm 34:17).
  5. Jesus was not the only person in the Bible with a donkey going toward a significant moment? Abraham brought a donkey with him on the way to sacrifice his only son (Genesis 22:2-3). King Solomon rode a donkey when he was recognized as king of Israel (I Kings 1:33). 
Read more about Palm Sunday:

We'd Love to Know:

Another Palm Sunday fact we could add to our list.

Wolfe Stew Connects

Imagine that moment. Seeing Jesus, the long-awaited one, riding on a donkey. The excitement in the crowd is palpable. Tears of joy stream down faces. Deliverance has come. 

But it did not come as they anticipated it would. 

Can you see this in your life too? Can you think of a situation where you dictated how Jesus would save you and then were mad when He didn't check off your boxes? I can. 

If He is to be our savior, the answer to our ardent prayers, we need to learn to trust Him. Not trust Him as long as He meets our expectations but trust Him no matter what. That's hard. That's brave. That means surrendering your control - loosening your grip on the things you care so much about. But we can do it. Even if it is a FIGHT. 

If you want to fight to grow in TRUST with us, we'd love to have you. We've crafted a GROWTH for Today calendar that aims to help you grow in trusting Jesus. Each day features a short but impactful activity built around learning to trust that God is who He says He is and that we can trust His promises. If you can grow in this area too, join us. Welcome to the FIGHT, Warrior!

We'd Love to Know:

How you know God is worthy of your TRUST.


Bible Verses and Quotes to Inspire

Verses

  • "He said to them, 'Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a donkey that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me.'" Mark 11:2 ERV
  • "Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your King is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation. He is humble and is riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Zechariah 9:9 EHV
  • "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey. A colt, the foal of a donkey.'" Matthew 21:5 NKJV
  • "They took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord - the King of Israel!" John 12:13 CSB
  • "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." Matthew 21:9 KJV

Quotes

  • "No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown." - William Penn
  • "Lord, we lift up your name. / With hearts full of praise; / Be exalted, O Lord my God! / Hosanna in the highest!" - Carl Tuttle
  • "Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; O Christ, thy triumphs now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin." - Henry Hart Milman
  • "He came in peace to give the people peace. They preferred salvation from taxation to salvation of their souls - and so in a few days they would prefer Barabbas to be freed instead of Jesus. Jesus could see that this was their mindset, and so in the midst of this praise, with people waving the palm branches like a national flag, Jesus wept." - Paul Wallace
  • "We will never know, this side of heaven, what terrible struggles took place in the spiritual world between Palm Sunday and Easter morning." - Rodney Buchanan

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote will you carry with you to Easter?

Activity Suggestions

Commemorate Palm Sunday by:
  • Reading Scriptures through Holy Week with Christianity.com. They bullet point daily events and give you scripture references to read along with it. 
  • Attending a Palm Sunday service.
  • Journaling how you have experienced the victory of Jesus.
We'd Love to Know: 
Other Palm Sunday activities you enjoy.

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow.

Fighting the Good Fight with You,

Red stew bowl with steam rising from top. Wolfe Stew crawled on front.

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.


 

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