257. Palm Sunday 2026

This powerful exploration of Palm Sunday confronts us with a challenging question: What kind of king do we really want Jesus to be? Drawing from Matthew 21, we're transported to that momentous day when Jesus entered Jerusalem, not as the warrior-king the crowds expected, but riding humbly on a donkey. The people wanted a political messiah who would overthrow Rome, heal their wounds, and restore their nation to glory. They wanted relief without repentance, control without surrender. Yet Jesus came offering something far more radical—a kingdom built not on violence and domination, but on sacrificial love and humble service. This message pierces through our modern expectations, asking us to examine where we're trying to recruit Jesus to our agenda rather than surrendering to His. The crowd's shift from shouting 'Hosanna' on Sunday to 'Crucify Him' by Friday reveals what happens when Jesus refuses to fit our preconceived notions. We're challenged to consider: Are we seeking Jesus to fix our circumstances, or are we willing to be transformed by Him? The call of repentance—metanoia, changing how we think so we do something different—becomes the gateway to truly experiencing the kingdom. This isn't about groveling in guilt, but about the daily renewal of aligning our minds with God's design. Palm Sunday announces that our King has arrived, but perhaps not the king we wanted—and that confronts us with an unavoidable choice