March 27, 2021

Those preceding him as well as those following him kept crying out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!’ – Mark 11:9-10

Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem was the kind of welcome fit for a King. In less than a week though, He would endure a brutal, torturous, humiliating death on the cross at the hands of the very people who celebrated His presence in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. So how did things go so wrong for Jesus? I think it has to do with fear and power and misinformation, not to mention that it was part of God’s plan for salvation!

It feels like we live in a world full of people afraid of everything, hungry for wealth and power, and given easily to untruths. So, maybe not much has changed since Jesus walked the earth? And yet, “…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) so that we may receive mercy and redemption through Him. Our broken world still longs for the Savior.

On this Palm Sunday 2021, as we continue to live in the time of a pandemic, we must remember that Jesus is alive; God’s merciful hand is always open—it is our job to reach out, to take His hand in ours, and to feel the peace that comes with surrender to the will of the Father. Then our hearts will be free to sing that ancient hymn of praise, “Hosanna to the highest!”

Jesus, I trust in you.



©Mary V. Pribbenow