Holy Week Starts Here
What Are You Expecting Jesus to Do This Week?
The crowd swarmed into the city, bodies pressing together, everyone angling for a glimpse of the rumored messiah. Cloaks and palm branches lined the cobbled street as voices rose in unison:
“Hosanna!”—“Save us, O LORD.”
Their long-awaited Savior had finally come to rescue them. Holding onto the gangly colt, Jesus entered the city, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy that the Messiah would come riding on a donkey. A royal procession—yet unlike any other. No war horse. No swords. Just a man of peace, riding in humility. A king, but not the kind they expected.
Whispers rippled through the crowd—Jesus had come to rescue them. But how would he reign?
Exhausted by their oppression, the Jews longed for a political deliverer, a new king to overthrow Roman rule. They hoped this would be the moment everything changed. And it was, but not in the way they imagined.
The King of kings had come. Yet, he would not lay claim to a political throne. God had a different rescue plan. Their misplaced hope for a new ruler left them discouraged and disappointed, but Jesus offered their ultimate deliverance.
Sometimes, we want a Jesus who fixes everything right now. We want a God who calms the storm, cancels the diagnosis, resolves the conflict, and gets us back on track. But Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus first deals with what’s happening in our hearts.
As Holy Week begins, pause and ask yourself:
What kind of King am I expecting Jesus to be? Am I hoping for comfort, control, or a quick fix? Or am I willing to trust that he’s doing something more profound—something I might not yet see—in the middle of my current circumstances?
Pray: Jesus, I confess how often I expect you to be who I want, not who you are. Quiet my expectations and help me recognize your presence—even when you show up in unexpected ways. As I walk through this week, keep my heart soft and open. Grant me fresh eyes to see you as my humble, saving King.
Scripture: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–40, John 12:12–19