March 24, 2024
The Day Grace Rode Into Town
SHARON JAYNES
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“… ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” Matthew 21:9 (NIV)
Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is part of a special series for Holy Week! From March 24 (Palm Sunday) to March 31 (Easter Sunday), each devotion will focus on the events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. We pray these words will prepare your heart and mind for the celebration of our risen Savior.
Suppose you knew that the people who cheered for you one day would sneer at you five days later. That the people who showered you with praise one day would hurl insults the next.
How would you respond to people’s accolades, applause and admiration on a Sunday if you knew those same people would turn their backs on you the following Friday?
That’s exactly what all-knowing Jesus faced when He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey on Palm Sunday. It was the first day of what we’ve come to call Holy Week — a remembrance of Jesus’ last days before His crucifixion.
Zechariah prophesied about this event: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9, NIV).
The crowd gave Jesus a royal welcome, waving palm branches and spreading their cloaks on the road. They shouted joyfully:
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9).
Hosanna comes from two Greek words: yasha, which means “save or deliver,” and anna, which means “please, I beseech.” The people hoped Jesus would save them from Roman tyranny, but He came to save them from so much more — the curse of sin and death. Their shortsightedness prevented them from seeing the eternal kindness of God’s greater plan.
For just a moment, walk beside the donkey in your mind’s eye, and listen to the words Jesus heard: “hosanna … blessed … in the highest!”
Now fast-forward five days and listen to the mob at His trial and execution:
“Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22-23, NIV).
“He saved others … but he can’t save himself!” (Matthew 27:42a, NIV).
Even though Jesus knew the narrative would change from the ride into town to the road to the cross, He continued moving forward. Why? Because of grace — unmerited favor, a gift we could never earn, God treating sinners better than we deserve. Knowing what would happen five days after His entrance into Jerusalem … He still rode.
That’s the same grace He offers you and me today. We praise Him one day and put Him off the next. We shout, “Hallelujah, praise the Lord!” one day, then cry, “He didn’t come through for me” the next. And in all our flip-flopping between trusting Jesus and doubting Him, He still loves us, fully knowing our weaknesses and waywardness.
He knew we would both rejoice and rebel, yet grace still rode into town — into my heart and yours. Thank God for His never-ending, overflowing, inexhaustible grace.
Jesus, I am in awe that You gave Your life for me even though You know everything I’ve done and will do. Thank You for Your amazing grace. May I never forget the wonder of Your sacrifice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Maybe you’ve heard of this Jesus and know a little about Him. Many know that Easter commemorates His resurrection. Some think of Him as a teacher or perhaps the founder of a major world religion. But do you know Him personally? Do you know that Jesus died and rose again, not just to start a spiritual movement but because He loves you and wants to provide a way for you to know Him? To find out more about Jesus Christ and how to have new life through Him, click here.
ENGAGE
Click here to download Sharon’s free resource: “55 Bible Verses of How God Transforms Our Lives and Redeems Our Stories.”
FOR DEEPER STUDY
John 12:16, “At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him” (NIV).
Choose one of the Gospels and read the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem five days before He walked to the cross: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19. What do you learn from this account?
Reread the first paragraph of this devotion and answer the question: What would I do if I knew ahead of time?
Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28106
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