Suppose I knew ahead of time that the people who cheered for me one day, would sneer at me five days later. That the people who showered me with praise one day would hurl insults the next. How would I respond to the accolades, applause, and admiration of others on a Sunday…if I knew those same people would turn their backs on me and shake their raised fists at me the following Friday?
That’s exactly what all-knowing Jesus faced when He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. It was the first day of what we’ve come to call Holy Week—a remembrance of Jesus’ last days.
Zechariah prophesied about the event: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (9:9)
That day had come, and as the donkey clomped along the dusty streets of Jerusalem with the King of Kings upon his boney back, the crowd gave Him a royal welcome by waving palm branches and spreading their cloaks on the road. They chanted:
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13)
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” (Mark 11:10)
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Matthew 21:9)
Hosanna is from two Greek words: “Yasha” which means “save or deliver” and “anna” which means “please, I beseech.” (Strong’s 5614). The people hoped that Jesus would save them from Roman tyranny, but He wanted to save them from so much more. He was coming to deliver them from the curse of sin and death. But 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!” “King!” Now fast forward five days and listen to the mob at his mock trial and again at the foot of the cross. “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22-23) “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself!” (Matthew 27:42)
Even though Jesus knew the chant 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 they deserve. Knowing what He knew was going to 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 and cry out, “He didn’t come through for me” the next. And in all the flip-flopping between trusting Jesus one day and turning our backs on Him the next…He still loves us. He still rides into our hearts knowing our weaknesses and waywardness.
He knew we would have times of rejoicing and times of rebellion, and yet, grace still rode into town…into my heart and yours. Today, take some time to thank God for His never-ending, overflowing, inexhaustible grace. Leave a comment and let’s praise Him together.
Jesus, I am in awe that You gave Your life for me, even though You know everything I have done and will do in the future. Thank You for Your amazing grace. May I never forget the wonder of sacrifice for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Digging Deeper
I know I shouldn’t have favorites, but When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories is mine. When Jesus gave His life for us at Calvary, He made it possible for us to have a better story. Only He can take the worst parts–the parts we’d love to rip out–and make them stand out as examples of divine transformation and victory. Oh friend, don’t get stuck in the bad parts of your story. Let’s discover together how to turn those difficult pages into powerful stories of redemption that God can use. (Includes a Bible study guide.)
Happy Easter!
Comments 39
Abba Father,
You are wonderful! You are magnificent! Awesome in power! May you reign forever and ever!
I’m glad that when I fall so many times, God still picks me up and extends His grace and mercy to me. I don’t deserve it but He never gets tired of loving me.
ThanK you, That was beautiful.. Praying for my adult children to also see the lord this way. A savior coming into the world to save us.
Evelyn, I echo your prayers.
Jesus, I am in awe that You gave Your life for me, even though You know everything I have done and will do in the future. Thank You for Your amazing grace. May I never forget the wonder of sacrifice for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
My mind just can’t comprehend that the same people that were rejoicing and ecstatically welcoming Jesus into town, was the same crowd crying out, “Crucify Him!” And yet your lesson brings out so clearly how we do the exact same thing. I am so thankful for His grace and mercy in my life!
As a young widow with 2 children at the age of 27, I couldn’t imagine what God was doing. Surely He had made a mistake. It was definitely one of those times that I wanted to rip the pages out of the book. But looking back now, it’s the most beautiful valley I have ever walked. God carried me and showed me His grace in such beautiful new ways that I had never experienced before!!
Thank you Sharon for using your talent for God’s glory! I always look forward to reading your post! Blessed Easter to you! Hosanna to the King!
I’ve been praying for 3 years that my son would get help with his addiction problems. Praise God that he never gives up on us. He has been sober about a month now.
It is one step at a time. I pray your son will be free of all temptation and stay sober.
Fawn, I’m praying for your son too.
Fawn, I’m praying for your son too. Praying that he will have a heart to seek Jesus wholeheartedly.
Praying for your son as well. AA works miracles, and is completely compatible with belief in Jesus as Savior.
Praise God and his son Jesus, they are so good. I am in awe of what Jesus went through for us, and I can’t image the pain and suffering he went through, but I am so grateful for all the blessings from God and for you to share these post. May God bless you and your family.
I tend to be a worry wort about everything. Gets to my heart not wanting to see friends family member or others hurt. My need to see everyone happy. Most times this tendency worries me to pieces and I forget what really matters. That our previous Lord has thus, has us in his hands. Remembering that constantly would ease my mind ❤️
This is me, too, Laurie! Thank you for stating it so well.
Yes, loving Lord I thank you for Your loving grace as You willingly rode to the cross knowing all for me- a sinner!
I can never truly thank You for Your sacrifice & love for me- BUT I try daily to walk with You! Yes, zI’ve tried to feel like what I’d think or feel that day? I’ve thought how Mary, his Mother felt the following days as He, innocent was “ before judges “ & then His walk to cross them to see your child on that cross!! What a scene to live through ALL for me?? I can never thank & praise Him enough- only live to tell others. Of His love, faithfulness & trustfulness! Only peace & happiness is being one of His. Children! Hallelujah!!
&
L’m
Thank you Sharon for your words and insight! You always send me exactly what I need!
Thank you Sharon for speaking to my heart regarding my own tendencies to wander from the only One I truly need to run to! I appreciate the gift and insight that God has given you and thank you for using it to bless wandering sheep like me!
Praying blessings over you and yours for a peaceful Easter!🙏💜🤗
Hosanna! He is risen!\o/
I am rejoicing in the fact that God loved us so much he sent his son to us.
Thank you Jesus for all you did for us because you love us as much as your Father loved us. And was willing to give your life so we could have life ever lasting in Heaven someday.
Excellent reminder Sharon. I sometimes forget that Jesus, being fully God, already knew how the crowd would respond. He knew they were looking for a worldly king and savior, not one who would save them from their sins. And He still loved them! Happy Easter!
Thank You Jesus for never giving up on me. Thank You for your mercy and unconditional love. I am so humbled.
He lives, he lives, he lives within my heart. Thank you Jesus for loving me. I have faults and failures and you still love me. My Savior lives and he soon is coming back. Oh I want to see him, look upon his face and sing forever of his amazing grace. God bless you Sharon and your family.
Anita
I have a lot to praise God For.. I have a disabled son which God pulled him through so many days that I didn’t know he would make it through But God knew…. So why do I get upset when it doesn’t happen again and again… The good days outweigh the bad days the unanswered days but I still get upset. I love god he’s brought me through so much. Please forgive me for the days that I doubt
Thank you Sharon for all your messages. They mean so much & to our Heavenly Father for His Grace & Love as he suffered for my sins, & died on a cross that I might have life.
Happy Easter to you dear one✝️
Father, as Jesus continued on knowing what awaited Him, help us to put one step in front of the other as we walk the path You have chosen for us. It may be uphill, but Your Spirit strengthens us each step of the way. Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice. Thank You, Father, for the plan formed before time began.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen and Amen!
Thank you Jesus! You could have called an army of angels to save you, but because of your great and unconditional love for us, you went to the cross willingly and died for me! No greater love, no greater gift. Thank you for your amazing grace. I look forward to the day I will see you face to face.
Thank you Sharon for this beautiful reminder. God Bless you all! Happy Easter! ❤
Thank you Sharon,
I am so thankful what God has done for me. He picks me up in times of failure and tells me I am His. I am thankful for all He has done for all of us. I needed this, this morning.
Have a blessed Easter
Praise God for His grace extended in my life!
Arthritis isn’t fun but the Lord gives grace to get up and keep moving!
Thank You Jesus for saving me!
Thank you GOD for your beautiful and loving son, Jesus Christ! Thank you GOD for sending us a Savior that continually loves us beyond our faults!! I love you GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit!! Alleluia!! Amen!!
Lord, I thank you for giving your life for me, Thank you for your Love, Mercy and Grace!!! I Love you JESUS!! 🙏🏼♥️
Thank you God for sending your Son to Calvary to bear our sins so that we could be brought back to you. Thank you for your saving grace 🙏🏾💗
So thankful for God’s grace.
I am sure over the centuries, others have noted this miracle, but it is likely not noticed by people so much in this day. It is recorded that this was a young donkey (if it had been a trained donkey there would have been no need to be that specific) and quite likely not trained to carry someone. An inexperienced donkey or a horse is quite likely to shy and buck if not trained to carry a weight. Plus, clothing and palm branches being waved around could also cause it to spook, but the donkey quietly carried Jesus in the procession. Even well-trained animals can spook!
Praising you Jesus for coming to rescue me, time and time again. Thank you for your love. May I continue to learn how to love like you do.
Glory to God that after being in the church for so long God opened my eyes to see his Grace and Mercy that had covered me from childhood. Holy spirit help me honor your resurrection by giving me wisdom to make better decisions according to will will so that I can Go and sin no more so that I don’t have to keep rewritten my story. because my story is your glory. Amen and Amen
Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice and what you have done now and for tomorow
He still rode! When he knew I would fail him! Thank you Jesus!
Thank you for this message, Sharon,
It is the work of the cross, that gives us Grace. Praise God, for assurance of freedom! Thank you Jesus, for swallowing up death, in Victory for us.
We are so Blessed!!!
Thank you Jesus that you died for me.
Thank you Sharon for your God given writing gift. I came across one of your devotion books a few years ago and just love the way you write.
Blessings
Sarah
He is Risen..Yeshua Jesus Christ..Lamb of God..
Amen to all of the people that wrote Thank you notes to Our heavenly FATHER for saving us by sacrificing his only Son, JESUS CHRIST! Thank you also, Sharon for this beautifully written post!
This speaks to me. So many times I dwell on the bad parts of my life, those chapters I want to rip out of the book of my life. But I am so blessed that God loves me and for the grace he gives me. My relationship with God gets stronger every day.
I try to learn from my mistakes and strive for being a better version of myself. I try to live out the 7 corpal works of mercy throughout my life.
I may stumble and I may struggle, but my faith helps me to continue. As through helping others I am healing, growing and learning.