Countering Expectations | Palm Sunday

Holy Week Series: Countering Expectations | Palm Sunday

Read: Mark 11:1-11

Key Verse:

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
-Mark 11:9-10

The bustle of bodies moving through tight-tucked streets in the city of Jerusalem subtly gained volume, curiosity, and excitement. Murmurs of the Messiah arriving itched the hearts of onlookers and turned the noses of Pharisees. People grabbed palm branches, spreading them on the street in welcome as Jesus entered on a colt. “Hosanna!” they cried out. “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Their hopes hung on what they expected of Jesus: to end the tyrannical reign of the Romans and restore political power to the Jewish people.

This same crowd that cheered Jesus in the beginning of the week would jeer and condemn Him just a few short days later, because He wasn’t doing what they wanted. Jesus’ path to the cross went counter to expectations, because God had a bigger plan than what anyone could picture.

Do we pray and expect Him to show up for us one way, and become disappointed when He responds differently to what we hope? God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). He sees a bigger picture, and His wisdom and heart can be trusted. His answer to our problems may look different than what we’re looking for, but we can trust that in His answer, a better good is waiting.

Have you looked for God to show up in a situation only to be surprised how He did? How did that impact your faith?

How can you remind your self that God’s heart for you is good, even in circumstances that go different than what you expect?

Father, thank You that Your ways are bigger than mine and You have the whole picture. I want to trust that You are at work, even in the hard things. Amen.