Palm Sunday - 2026

 

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:1–10 ESV).

 

Today is the day that begins Easter Week for most Christian churches in the world. It is most often called Palm Sunday as it calls forth the memory of the spreading of palm branches along the road that Jesus came into Jerusalem on for the last time before His crucifixion. It is a remarkable event. The Prince of Peace enters the "City of Peace" (Jerusalem’s literal translation) as the people cheer, "Hosanna!," which means, "Save!" However, it is unlikely they knew what was really happening. Their "Hosanna!" will become "Crucify him!" by the end of the week. Also of interest are the two disciples Jesus sent to get the colt. I wonder if they were honored to do this for Jesus? Their obedience challenges us to be obedient disciples.

 

Neither then nor now does Jesus need cheerleaders and crowds waving branches and throwing cloaks to carpet the way for Him. James Russell (J. R.) Miller was a prolific 19th-century American Presbyterian pastor, editor, and author who wrote over 60 books and numerous pamphlets focused on practical Christian living, devotionals, and home life. Known for a smooth, encouraging writing style, his work emphasized character building, daily kindness, and spiritual optimism. He was born on March 20, 1840, near Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania. He attended Westminster College and served as a pastor in Pennsylvania and Illinois. He died in Philadelphia on July 2, 1912. In a short sermon He said:

 

“Shallowness of life is too common a fault. It is not a large proportion of beginnings of good, which grows into maturity. There are too many people who are always eager to accept any new truth that is brought to them—but who do nothing with it, make nothing of it, do not assimilate it in their life— and therefore soon lose it. Many begin to build, and are not able to finish. Countless readers read part of the first volume of great books, and never get any farther. In certain popular schools and lecture courses, the first enrolment falls off fifty percent before the close. If all who begin to learn music or art persevered unto the end—how full the world would be of music and of beauty! If all fine beginnings of character ripened into perfection—how good we all would be!” (J. R. Miller, Shallow Lives)

 

I pray the beginning of this week will lead us to a deeper level of unquestioning obedience to will and purpose God has given us to travel in our lives!