Holy Week Day 1 • Monday, March 30

As we begin Passion Week together, I want to invite us to slow down and truly reflect on the story we’re entering into. This week is rich with meaning, filled with opportunities to see Jesus for who He truly is—perhaps in ways that surprise us or even challenge us.

Today, we start at the beginning of this sacred journey: Palm Sunday. It’s the day Jesus enters Jerusalem, and the crowd responds with a celebration that feels electric. They’re shouting, praising, waving palm branches, and honoring Him like royalty. It’s a high-energy moment, and yet, beneath the surface, there’s tension.

When the crowd looked at Jesus riding into Jerusalem, they saw their long-awaited Messiah. They cried out, “Hosanna!” which means “Save us!” They were desperate, longing for rescue from the oppressive rule of Rome. They wanted a king who would step in with power, overthrow their enemies, and restore Israel to its former glory.

Instead of riding in on a war horse, which would have been a symbol of strength and military might, Jesus came on a donkey. It was a deliberate, humble act. He wasn’t signaling war; He was bringing peace.

Everything about this moment is packed with meaning. Jesus is showing us that His kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. He doesn’t come with force but with humility. He doesn’t come demanding power but offering surrender. And He doesn’t just address the surface-level problems of the world—He goes deeper, to the very root of the problem: the human heart.

Isn’t it interesting how often we want Jesus to work on our terms?

We’re not so different from the crowd that day. Sometimes we want Jesus to act in ways that are obvious, immediate, and external. We want Him to fix our circumstances, solve our problems, and make everything right—right now.

But Jesus doesn’t always work that way.

Instead, He works deeper. He comes to the heart of the issue, addressing things we might not even realize need attention. He doesn’t just want to fix our circumstances; He wants to transform our lives. That’s why Passion Week begins with such a challenging question for all of us:

If we’re honest, that’s not always an easy question to answer. It requires humility on our part. It means letting go of our expectations and surrendering to His perfect plan.

I want to pause here and invite you to reflect on this question personally:

This can be a humbling question to sit with. I know for me, there have been so many times when I’ve prayed for Jesus to move in a specific way—whether it’s in my family, my ministry, or even in my own heart. And when His timing didn’t match mine, or when His answer didn’t look like what I expected, I’ve found myself wrestling with disappointment.

But when I look back on those moments, I can see that His way was always better. His timing was always perfect. His purposes were always greater than what I could see in the moment.

I think that’s what makes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem so powerful. He knew the crowd didn’t fully understand who He was or what He came to do. He knew their expectations were misplaced. But He still entered the city. He still moved forward toward the cross. Why? Because His love for us runs deeper than our misunderstandings.

One of the most beautiful things about Jesus is His humility.

Think about it: He is the King of all creation. He could have entered Jerusalem with all the pomp and power we might expect of a king. But instead, He chose a donkey. He chose gentleness. He chose peace.

Why? Because His kingdom is different.

Jesus’ humility is what draws us to Him. He doesn’t come to intimidate or dominate; He comes to serve, to save, and to invite us into relationship with Him. His humility is an invitation to trust Him, to surrender to Him, and to follow Him as our King—not out of fear, but out of love.

If we’re honest, there are times when we try to shape Jesus into the kind of Savior we prefer.

We want Him to meet our expectations, to act in ways that make sense to us, to fix the things we think are most pressing. But when we do that, we miss out on the fullness of who He is.

Jesus isn’t just the Savior who fixes our problems; He’s the King who transforms our lives. And when we let Him be King—when we surrender to His will instead of trying to bend Him to ours—that’s when we experience the peace, purpose, and hope that only He can give.

So, what does it look like to truly let Jesus be King in our lives?

It starts with surrender. It means laying down our plans and trusting His. It means saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” even when that’s hard. It means trusting His timing, His wisdom, and His heart, even when life doesn’t make sense.

When we let Jesus be King, we live with open hands. We trust that He is good, even when circumstances are difficult. We trust that He is faithful, even when we can’t see the full picture.

As we reflect on the events of Palm Sunday, let’s take a moment to remember who Jesus is:

He is humble, but never weak.
 He is worthy of celebration, yet He does not come with self-promotion or force.
 He is a King of peace, purpose, and surrender.

This is Jesus.

Not the King we expected, but the King we so desperately need.

Let’s close with this prayer together:

Jesus, I welcome You as King. Teach me to trust Your way, Your timing, and Your heart—even when it looks different than I expected. Help me to surrender my expectations and desires to You, knowing that Your plans are always better. Thank You for being the King who came in humility, who brought peace, and who gave everything for us. I trust You today and every day. Amen.

As we move through this holy week together, I encourage you to reflect on this: Will you receive Jesus for who He truly is, or only for who you hoped He would be?

Celebration family, let’s journey through this week with hearts open to the King who came to save us—not on our terms, but for something far greater.

Blessings,
Pastor David