THE PALM PARTY...

Hardy Palm Tree Farms

In the passages for today we look at the entering of Jesus into Jerusalem on what has become known as Palm Sunday.

The event is accompanied by a festive atmosphere. As Jesus enters Jerusalem,  everyone is crying "Hosanna in the Highest."

However, by the end of the week, it appears this same crowd was crying, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." A lesson in how fickle the crowd can be. So Jesus finds his relationship with the crowd turned by week's end.

For the crowd, in the end, Jesus was most likely just "another messiah" entering Jerusalem. Possibly a somewhat routine event in the Holy City of David. So get a rent-a-donkey. Oh, and order some more palm trees from Hardy Farms, we're running low.

However, by Sunday, Jesus stands having followed and accomplished his calling before God. And the truth is that his actions were for the very people who populated the crowds of both popularity and condemnation. This week is known as Christ's Passion. His passion does not wane for the people or for his calling.

What about your passion? Have you ever had an experience that started out glorious but by the end of the week was a complete dilemma? Have you ever been through both the hallelujah and the dilemma and finally find yourself standing resurrected in accomplishment?


Where are you presently in your passion experience?


How does Jesus' passion instruct yours?



Matthew 21:1-11
21:1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

21:2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.

21:3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately."

21:4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

21:6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;

21:7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.

21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

21:10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"

21:11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."