(Let today’s devotion prepare your heart for Easter.)
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 you 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 21:19)
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. As we take some time to prepare out hearts for the celebration of Easter, take some time to thank God for His never-ending, over-flowing, inexhaustible grace.
Jesus, I am in awe that You gave Your life for me, even though You know everything I have done in the past and will do in the future. Thank You for Your amazing grace. May I never forget the wonder of Your sacrifice for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What is one thing about God’s grace that you are thankful for today? Leave a comment and let’s thank Him together.
Digging Deeper
Thinking of Jesus riding into town to praises of His people one day and walking to the cross to the jeers of the same people a few days later, was a Sudden Glory moment to for me. God opened my eyes to see that truth. If you would like to know how to experience moments of Sudden Glory in your own life…moments when God makes Himself known on a daily basis, then this book will help you get there. That’s why I wrote it! Check it out and learn how to open your eyes to see Jesus in new and fresh ways. A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More
Comments 31
For enduring love and forgiveness
I thank God every day for his unconditional love!
I am thankful for God’s Grace that his unconditional love for me never changes no matter what I do or fall short of. God Blesses me with his grace & reminds me that I am his child & the apple of his eye & I am forever grateful 🙏🏾
I am in awe that Jesus chose me and loved me to die for me when I was his enemy.i was living life dependent on my perfection and doing, but obviously failing and trying harder. I’m forever grateful that He is my Lord and Savior, that Holy Spirit abides in me, and the God the Father is over me. He has changed me and continues to do so with such patience, gentleness, and love. I need you Jesus.
My relationship with the God of Grace and Mercy has allowed me today to stay calm once again forgive my husband for his binge drinking over the weekend and move forward to the best of my ability.
Lord, I don’t deserve your mercy and grace but I’m so incredibly grateful for it. Thank you for your sacrifice and help me continue to be a witness of your offering to me!
God gave me “grace upon grace” when I tried to take my life! I am whole, cured of chronic depression, and better than ever! I thank God for His grace to me.
Praise the Lord! God bless you, Sue and Happy Easter!
Even though friends have rejected me, Jesus loves me this I know!
God’s grace is always with me.
I am thankful that He never gives up on me, no matter how many times I fail him.
I am thanking for His grace that has been sustaining me, especially during the days since my husband passed away in Sept. 2023. He is the great Comforter, too. I couldn’t make it without Him.
Patty, I too am a widow and lost my husband in March of 2023. I will be praying for you and am so thankful that God’s grace is a gift to me that I don’t have to earn.
Thankful for his unconditional love. Thankful in the mist of the storm he is there when I cannot see him. Thankful that his mercies (Praise The Lord) are NEW every morning!!!
I was once co sider His enemy, but He chose me and delivered me anyway. I will be eternally grateful. Thank You Jesus! 😪❤️
Today, I’m especially thankful for God’s grace-undeserved, unending, and always available. It humbles me and lifts me all at once.
I’m thankful I was born and live in the United States!!! I’m thankful for faithful women who pray for this Nation and our President, Congress, governor’s and mayors!!! I’m thankful for all of the people that bless my heart because God is in theirs and so much more!!! Bless you!!
I am thankful for God‘s presence in my life even on the days that it’s hard to be thankful. I know he walks with me every day in the journey called life. He died so that my sins would be vanquish and then I would have an eternal life by believing in this truth. Hosanna, hosanna in the highest
Jesus loves us unconditionally. I’m very thankful for his unconditional love.
Thank you Lord for the grace and forgiveness you give me each day! My faith in my strength and love of my self is weak but I truly know you are the only love I need!! You have carried me in your arms for 73 years and I am eternally grateful. No words could ever be enough for your eternal saving grace which I have been afforded. My prayers to all today in every circumstance. May you be touched by the hand God and feel his presence! 🙏🙏
I’m so thankful for His amazing saving grace. And that He chose me to be His child
I am thankful that Jesus continues to love and forgive me when I can’t always be the person he wants me to be. I am so thankful for his loving grace.
His arms and heart wide open to me!
I thank Him for the amazing love He showed for us sinners as He rode into town on a lowly donkey knowing that those who were cheering Him that day would be jeering Him on Friday. I cannot even imagine having that much love for all so undeserving.
I am so thankful that He understands how hard I find it to be strong all the time after the loss of my husband. He patiently waits for me to be ready to accept the next stage before He pushes me towards it, yet He gives me glances of what that might look like when I do reach that stage.
Thank you Lord for your unmerited Grace. For your forgiveness each and every time I deny you or fail you and for every sin I have committed and the ones I may not even be aware of! Thank you for saving me and loving me unconditionally! I love you Jesus, thank you for giving your life for me! ✝️
I am so grateful that God continues to pursue me in my disobedience and and self-sufficiency. He has done so many wonderful things for me since the passing of my husband. Friends and family have been overwhelmingly supportive. I have moved around alot in my life, and God always brought people into my life for each season. How can I be so forgetful for all that he has done. I am in awe of His presence and work in my life. May I remember daily His sacrifice and His love for me that is truly humbling and unending. Thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy.
For God’s unconditional love and faithfulness
Through eyes of righteousness God sees my sin, and me at my worst. BUT, through His love for Jesus, and that priceless precious blood that covers me, God sees me as His best and ALWAYS redeemable. What a Savior!
In 2018 God led me to an organization called The Lulu Tree, and I have been faithfully donating money every tax season. My daughter died unexpectedly 3 years ago and I reached to Lulu to, in some way, honor Jennifer. God brought forth a maternity clinic in Uganda, once again, proving to me Gods grace in the very worst of circumstances!
Grace! “for out of His infinite mercies in Jesus, He giveth & giveth & giveth again “