Palm Sunday

March 28, 2021 | By Brandon Cobb PC ‘21

Pictured: a palm leaf against a black background.

Editor's Note: As the Yale Logos, we strive to come beside the Christian communities on our campus and beyond to think, fellowship, mourn, and celebrate together. Through Holy Week, one such community, Yale Students for Christ, is also putting out daily devotionals through their email panlist. The following is the first of these devotionals, please join us as we meditate on Holy Week together. 

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say 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 Daughter Zion,

    ‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large 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 shouted.

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

- Matthew 21:1-16 NIV [1]

Why do you think the disciples had no problem with Jesus’ instructions for acquiring His transportation? If you really think about it, that is one weird request. “Go into the town and you will see a colt on which no one has ever sat. Bring it back to me. Oh, and by the way, if anyone asks or threatens to come after you for stealing, just tell them, ‘The Lord is in need of it.’” (Luke 19: 28-30)

Do you know why that wasn’t a problem? Because these men had been with Jesus for almost three years and they had seen His life and heard His teaching. They had done stuff like this before. They had seen Jesus sitting at the well with a Samaritan woman. They saw Jesus interact with tax collectors and diseased people. He raised people from the dead and cast out demons. Peter had given the definitive stance on who Jesus truly was (Mark 8:29). They knew from experience that they could trust Him.

Before we even get to the Triumphal Entry, where Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the colt he requested and is greeted by an adoring crowd, we glean an interesting insight into walking with Jesus. Following Jesus is not the easiest road to travel (Matthew 7:14), but we must totally trust our Savior. His ways may not always make sense and at times don’t include people waving palm branches and cheering as he rides into the city, but our God is good and He does good. Trust Him. Trust His way.

Notes

[1] For further reading and reflection, another version of this story is also found in Luke 19: 28-30.

---