Day 1: Palm Sunday

This devotional comes from BibleProject

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus and his disciples arriving in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover after a long journey. Jesus’ arrival in the city is often referred to as the “triumphal entry.” And it was—the crowds cried out, “Praise the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” And they sang “Hosanna!” while throwing palm branches and coats on his path.

Why was Jesus given this royal treatment?

Israel’s prophets spoke about a king who would come to the holy city and bring justice and peace to Israel (Zech. 9:9). When the crowds see Jesus on the donkey, they seem to think that Jesus is God’s promised King, the long-awaited Messiah sent to rescue Israel and establish God’s Kingdom on Earth.

But Jesus wasn’t the king they were expecting. Many thought this king would honor the temple and its powerful leaders, but Jesus powerfully criticizes the temple system and predicts its collapse. Others hoped Jesus would lead a military revolt as previous “messiahs” had done, but Jesus rides in without armies or weapons or warhorses. He comes on a donkey filled with patient, peaceful, self-giving love. He shocks people further when he says that the Kingdom of God belongs not to the elite and powerful but to the poor and the outsider. God’s Kingdom is one where love reigns—love of God and others, including our enemies.

In today’s video, learn more about this upside-down Kingdom Jesus came to establish. And discover why Jesus was not what the people were expecting and why the religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw him and his Kingdom as a threat to their power.

BibleProject ~ How Jesus Became the King of the World (That He Always Was)

If the embedded video won't play, you can go straight to YouTube here to watch it.

Matthew 21:1-11

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3 If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” 10 When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

You can read the entire chapter here

John 12:12-19

12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” 14 Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.” 16 At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him. 17 Meanwhile, many people who had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. 18 That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”

You can read the entire chapter here

Luke 19:28-44

28 After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 “The Lord needs it,” they answered. 35 Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it. 36 As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.” 41 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

You can read the entire chapter here

Prayer* for Palm Sunday: Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for us you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon himself our nature and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and come to share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• All prayers in this reading plan are from the Book of Common Prayer (2019).