I believe all of us love unwrapping gifts with the wonder of what is inside and is it the special thing that I always wanted.
Have you ever received a gift that you did not want , nor expect?
Sometimes, what we expect isn’t what we get, but that doesn’t mean the gift isn’t good, or even better than we had hoped.
On Palm Sunday, the people of Jerusalem expected a King to come in power, overthrowing Rome, and restoring Israel’s glory. They had long awaited the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, but their vision was limited to earthly victories. Jesus came to bring a deeper freedom—one not from Roman rule, but from the chains of sin and death. His mission was far greater than they imagined, offering eternal life instead of temporary relief.
As Jesus and His disciples approach Jerusalem, coming to the villages of Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus gives specific instructions to two of His disciples. He tells them to go into the village, where they will find a donkey and her colt tied up. He instructs them to untie the animals and bring them to Him, assuring them that if anyone questions them, they should respond, “The Lord needs them. This is definitely an odd request. He is using the unexpected to do the miraculous.
I don’t know about you, but I am glad that God does not do things the way I would do them. What I have found is that God’s plans always exceed my own. His perspective is eternal, and His purpose is greater than I can comprehend. While we might pray for immediate relief or temporary victories, God often answers with something far deeper and more transformative than I could imagine. It requires my trust.
A man discovers a treasure hidden in a field. He quickly covers it up, sells everything he owns, and buys the field. Why? Because the treasure is worth far more than all he had before. This parable, told by Jesus, captures the essence of Palm Sunday. The crowd saw Jesus as a King who would give them temporary victory, but they failed to see the eternal treasure He truly offered. Their expectations blinded them to the greater gift—salvation through Him.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that donkey, He was declaring, not through conquest, but through humility, that He is the King of Kings. His mission was not to take over a throne but to take our place on the cross. His victory wasn’t won by defeating Rome, but by defeating sin and death for all eternity.
Palm Sunday challenges us to reflect on our expectations of Jesus. Do we only want Him to fix our circumstances, or do we trust Him as the Savior who redeems our souls? Like the man in the parable, we must recognize the treasure of who Jesus truly is and surrender everything to Him.
This week, as we move closer to the cross and ultimately to the empty tomb, ask yourself…
Have I fully trusted Jesus as my King?
If He rode into your life today, what would your response be?
Let Palm Sunday remind us that God’s plans are greater than our own. Jesus didn’t come to meet our temporary desires but to fulfill our deepest needs. He is the King who saves, and His love is the treasure worth everything. Will you trust Him with your life?
“Lord Jesus, we thank You for coming as our true Savior and King. Help us to trust in Your plans, even when they don’t align with our expectations. Teach us to surrender fully to Your reign in our lives. May we walk in humility, serve others with love, and proclaim Your name with joy. Amen.”
