Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Matthew 21:8-11
A Palm Sunday Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Today, we wave palm branches in your honor. We sing “Hosanna in the highest!” We shout your name to the heavens.
I want to stay here, Jesus. I want to stay on the streets with the palm branches, where everyone is cheering for you, hands to the sky. It’s the ultimate party for the ultimate King.
But this parade doesn’t end on the streets. It’s headed straight for the cross.
Soon, the “Hosannas” will be a faint echo. People will cry out “crucify him!”
You knew that, didn’t you? Even as the palm branches brushed against your arms, you knew where this road was leading. You knew who’d betray you. You knew who’d deny you. You knew how your biggest fans would run and hide.
Today, we watch you ride into town on a borrowed donkey, with your head held high. It’s the only time in all of Scripture where you allowed yourself to be exalted. But even then, it was never about the crowd’s approval of you. You had your face set like flint on the cross.
The cross.
No one knew but you.
You had determined from the beginning that you would love us to your death, so that we could truly be given life.
The magnitude of your sacrifice is incomprehensible. The depth of your love is incomparable. And the breadth of your goodness makes you absolutely irresistible.
When you came into Jerusalem, the whole city asked, “Who is this?”
Today, I answer with all my heart:
You are my Savior, that’s who.
You are my Lord, that’s who.
You are my Friend, and my Redeemer, and the reason my life has meaning.
You are my purpose, and my passion, and my pathway to peace.
You are the one true King.
Today, I spread my cloak on a different kind of road – the road that leads straight to my heart. I invite you to enter in, to make a home in my heart, and to change me from the inside out. I want to love you at all costs – not to be counted among those who denied you, betrayed you, or hid when the stakes were high.
May you always see my branch, waving high for you. May you always hear my voice, exalting you above everything else in my life:
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
In your precious name,
Amen.
Q: When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people asked: “Who is this?” How would you answer that same question today?
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Jennifer,
This is absolutely beautiful….your words captured the sentiments of my heart as well….hard to say much more…. thanks be to my Healer, my Redeemer, my Restorer, my Rewarder, my Provider, my Savior, my First Love, My All in all…. My Everything….Amen!
Blessings and praise be to the One who sacrificed it all for me/you,
Bev xx
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
Amen, Bev.
Have a blessed day.
Marina says
This is The One who holds my heart, dries my tears, knows my thoughts (even the ones I’m ashamed to admit to). He is the One True and Living God, The Creator, My Saviour and Redeemer. He is Jesus, the ONLY Son of God, born of a virgin, walked as a man, died on a cross and risen again! He’s my Daddy, my Husband, my Lord.
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
So beautiful, Marina.
Josephine Broderick says
My soul is blessed. What an awesome way to begin the day. Jesus my redeemer and friend and provider and protector and healer! Thanks and Praises!
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
He truly is our All in All! Thank you, Josephine.
Christine says
This is the most touching and beautiful Palm Sunday devotional that I have ever read. Thank you for blessing my heart in these moments as I sit before heading off to our Palm Sunday celebration. What a Savior and friend we have!
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
I am so glad these words touched your heart, Christine. Have a blessed day.
Beth Williams says
Jennifer,
I would call Him Savior, Healer, Giver of Miracles, My Rock, My Redeemer-let my loud Hosannas ring out! He allowed me to witness a miracle last year. That brought me closer to Him than ever before! About 9 years ago my dad got re baptized. He had been reading New Testament over. He told my pastor that he had broken those ten commandments many times and needed to repent. Praise God for that redemptive time! Now my dad is in Heaven with mom praising God! This is a special Palm Sunday for me!
Blessings 🙂
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
Wow! Thanks for sharing that beautiful story of redemption, Beth. Hosanna in the highest!
Jamie says
Absolutely beautiful words! And oh, so touching!❤️
Martha Orlando says
Jennifer, you words here so perfectly mirrored our pastor’s sermon today. May Jesus always find us with palms raised high to the King of Kings!
Blessings!
Terri says
Thank you so much for speaking up for Jesus. You inspire us all to shout his name and do his work!
Krisette says
This made me cry thank you so much for writing this!!! It’s beautifully written and said. Our precious jesus deserves it all!!
Stephanie Wethington says
Jennifer, what a wonderful prayer describing the Jesus, the Son of God. He is my savior and I am so thankful for you, your posts and for Jesus and that He does for me, my family and others. I don’t I could describe who He is better than you did. He is all the things in your prayer to me. Thank you for sharing and God Bless you.
Michele Morin says
Joining my heart with yours in this prayer.
Rebecca L Jones says
I can give you a one word answer, He’s everything to me.
Marissa Henley says
This is so beautiful. It struck me how you said that while the crowds cheered for him, His face was set toward the cross. If we are to follow after Him, then even when others cheer for us, we need to have our face turned toward His cross as well, being willing to suffer for His glory, remembering we are His redeemed children by His grace, and boasting in nothing but the cross of our Savior.
lynn says
Amen to this powerful prayer, Jennifer! He is exalted and at the name of JESUS every knee will bow and every tongue confess He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings…my Redeemer/Rescuer be praised!