Friday, April 3

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!” John 12:12-13

Jerusalem was a very crowded place. Religious pilgrims had already begun flooding the city in preparation for the Passover. Herders would be clogging the streets with the many sacrificial animals—lambs and calves—required for this High Holy Festival. The Roman Governor, Pilate was in town with extra troops to keep a lid on sectarian violence and potential riots; that made Jerusalem a very dangerous place to greet a new “King of Israel.”

We can’t know exactly what drew out the crowds, the text doesn’t say. We can’t know exactly what the people expected of Jesus when they began to wave the branches and call him a king. But, we do know that their first cry, “Hosanna” was a cried-aloud prayer for salvation.

I picture the palm branches that lined the muddy street, forgotten after being trampled underfoot and I wonder… What does salvation look like?

On this day, perhaps, it looked like a parochial parade with a man riding a donkey. We know that a few short days later, it would look much different and I wonder… Did Jesus walk over any of those crushed, forgotten fronds on his way to the cross?


Almighty God, when I bless your holy name, free me from my limited expectations to glimpse your uncontainable majesty. When I cry to you for salvation, free me from my limited expectations to experience the wonder of your redeeming love. When I consider your claim on my life, free me from my limited expectations to live as one who knows this Jesus whom the crowds proclaimed king. Amen.

Martha Langford, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care