Devotion

Easter Devotion: Palm Sunday - A Divine Paradox? 

This Sunday is Palm Sunday on the church calendar, the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey in fulfilment of the Biblical prophecy. Many were expecting Jesus to be a conquering, worldly ruler in the mould of a Roman emperor, however Jesus showed himself as a heavenly ruler in many countercultural and paradoxical ways. Of course, Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Holy Week and the range of events that led up to Jesus' death and resurrection for us. 

As Jerusalem's streets filled with pilgrims for Passover, none could have anticipated how this particular Sunday would resonate through history. Palm Sunday marks Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem—yet this triumph carried the seeds of contradiction that would unfold throughout Holy Week.

Picture the scene: Jesus approaches Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's ancient prophecy of a king arriving "gentle and riding on a donkey." The crowds, swept up in messianic fervor, spread cloaks and palm branches on the road before him. Their hosannas echo against the city walls as they cry, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Yet within this moment of celebration lies a profound irony. The palms waved in triumph would soon give way to nails and thorns. The voices shouting "Hosanna!" would, within days, cry "Crucify him!" The King they welcomed rode not toward an earthly throne but toward Calvary.

Palm Sunday invites us to examine the contradictions in our own hearts. How often do we praise God when our expectations are met, only to turn away when the divine path leads where we didn't anticipate? The palm branches remind us of the fleeting nature of worldly acclaim and our own inconsistent faithfulness. Jesus entered Jerusalem fully aware of what awaited him. His procession wasn't political theatre but a deliberate embodiment of God's upside-down kingdom—where true power is found in service, where victory comes through sacrifice, and where a cross becomes a throne.As we hold our own symbolic palms today, we're called to recognise Christ not just as the king we want, but as the Savior we need. The humble king who rides toward suffering invites us to follow him—not just in moments of triumph, but through the valleys of sacrifice and surrender.

May this Easter and Holy Week begin with honest reflection for us: Will we only wave palms, or will we truly follow the one who carried his cross?

Dear God, thank you so much for bringing Jesus into our world to be born and to die for our sins. Thank you Lord Jesus for that act of sacrifice. We now know that through you, we have the hope of your glory in our lives. Thank you for your kindness and tender mercies. You are faithful and love us with unconditional love. Amen

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal