Through the Eyes of The Crowd // The Cross Through The Eyes of... (LENT 2025) // Matthew 21:1-11, Zechariah 9:9-13 // Doug Glynn // 04.13.25

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, when Jesus entered Jerusalem to cheers of “Hosanna!” and a crowd laying palm branches before Him. This act was not merely festive; it was profoundly political. Palms were a nationalistic symbol of victory and freedom for the Jewish people, dating back to the Maccabean revolt 150 years earlier, when Judas Maccabeus expelled foreign oppressors and was celebrated with parades and palm branches. The crowd’s actions in Jesus’ day expressed hope for a messianic deliverer who would free them from Roman rule by force.

However, Jesus defied these expectations by choosing to enter the city on a donkey, a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 and a direct statement about the kind of king He was. This donkey symbolized peace, humility, and servant leadership, and highlighted a key theme of Jesus’ ministry: the upside-down nature of God’s Kingdom, where power is expressed through surrender, love, and sacrifice rather than dominance and violence. Jesus’ choice forced a redefinition of Messiah and power, setting up a deep tension for the crowd—and for us. “The crowd” shouted “Hosanna” on Sunday, but when Jesus didn’t meet their political and nationalistic expectations, we read that on Friday, “the crowd” shouted to “Crucify Him.” Reflecting on this event, we are invited to consider: Will I worship and follow Jesus on MY terms… or on HIS terms?