Holy Week begins this weekend with Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds laid down their coats, waved palm branches, and shouted, "Hosanna!" which meant "Lord, save us!" They thought this would be their king who would overthrow the Roman empire, take his rightful place, and finally establish this kingdom he had been teaching about for the last three years. But what transpired just a few days later looked nothing like what they expected or hoped. It looked like the opposite of triumphant.
Of course we know the victory that was really won. He did everything He promised, but not in the way we expected. And even though I have believed in Jesus since I was a child, I still find myself awakening to the power of His death and resurrection, and everything that it accomplished. Salvation has come. We have been set free from the bondage of sin. He has overcome the world. We have a hope, a future, and a glorious inheritance. And now the very power and Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living *inside* of us. This is GOOD NEWS!
Now that I have small children, I want to take every opportunity to bring this truth to life for them. Last year I put together this Palm Sunday dinner for our family. I thought it would be fun to let the kids play with their food and lay down mozzarella coats and wave "palm branches" (spinach leaves). There is a free download of the little paper banners and blank menu cards below. I hope you can use them to celebrate with your own family!
John Piper says, "So when we sing "Hosanna" now, let's make it very personal. Let's make it our praise and our confidence. The Son of David has come. He has saved us from guilt and fear and hopelessness. Salvation! Salvation belongs to our God and to the Son! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!"
*cross artwork by @DrewDoodlesIllustrations
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