The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. – John 12:12-16

Today we celebrate our God and King, Jesus Christ, our hearts and minds beginning a weeklong remembrance of the final week leading up to His arrest, trial, crucifixion and death. Although Christians know he rose from the dead, atoning for our sins and triumphing over death, it is a sober reminder that the same people praising Jesus would turn on Him, that even his disciples would desert and deny Him. Jesus died for sinners. There is an enormous tension between the joy Christians have in Christ’s finished work and the ongoing work of conviction and sanctification in our lives, that still stumble in sin – sin that Jesus died on a cross for.

I pray you’ll join us for a contemplative look on Good Friday at what the scriptures tell us about his betrayal, crucifixion and death, so that come sunrise Easter morning, our gathering for worship will be all the sweeter as we celebrate His resurrection, His ascension, and our commission as Christians for His glory.