Palm Sunday

WesleyMen Lenten & Easter Devotionals 2025

Gospel Lectionary

Luke 19:28-40 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Matthew 21:1-10 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”

Reflection

Let the people shout Alleluia, before the stones cry out!

Children and adults know that on Palm Sunday the congregation will gather outside of the Church for the beginning of the Palm Sunday service and celebration. Then, through the gates and doors, the procession will move inside, marking Jesus’ triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Some will be carrying palms in their hands; in some places, even a donkey might turn up. With great joy, people singing and shouting “Alleluias” – like the people in Jerusalem when Jesus arrived mounted on a donkey – the people will welcome their King: Jesus, our true King!

“They spread their cloaks on the road … and began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Luke 19:36,37 and 38). Our Jesus is a humble King; as such, He brings peace not war; freedom to the people; healing to their needs; and meaning to their lives. The people came down with Him from the Mount of Olives shouting: “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ (v 38). There is a cliffhanger in St Luke’s reporting of the story: will Jesus and His disciples descending the mount of Olives be welcomed through the gate into Jerusalem?

Many cities have gates marking their way into the city. In Jerusalem the Eastern Gate is the gate facing in the direction that Jesus is coming from. Christians believe that this is the gate – or probably the one on top of which the present gate was built on, – through which Jesus entered Jerusalem. Intriguingly, the Eastern Gate has been walled up since 1541 and not for the first time in history either. Allegorically, one could say: ‘if the gate were open, Jesus, the King, would come in and bring justice, peace, love and compassion for all people. If Jesus were allowed in, would the people acclaim: ‘Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’.

‘When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil. ‘Who is this? The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’ (Matthew 21:10 and 11). Why should a humble King bring turmoil to the city? Is it because deep inside, in the heart of the city, as it were, the humble King is not really the King that is expected and therefore not the one that some people want to welcome? Maybe it is symbolic that the Eastern Gate is bricked up.

To what extent are we ourselves and the society in which we live, prepared to welcome a humble King? Jesus still speaks to our hearts today and enquires, “what are you going to say when you see Me humbly at the gate? Will you pick up palms and shout ‘Alleluias’ and welcome me in?” Each one of us knows that a humble King will demand a change of heart, mind and behavior. A sincere and truthful affirmative response to that question can only be accompanied by a humble and serving life. That is the way to welcome the King into our lives!

And how to welcome Jesus into our cities, our societies? Many other cities have gates marking their ancient entry points. They are beautiful urban features. Seoul, in South Korea, for example, the South Gate is a historical and imposing monument. The gates testify to an expectation that on coming into the city the experience will be positive and fulfilling. For Seoul and for many cities, most people will have that positive experience. That is why cities get bigger and bigger as everybody wants to live in them, regardless of how busy they are. They still offer something that people are seeking. But not always, because cities also offer toil without fair rewards. What would Jesus’ kingdom bring into our cities? How to allow the spirit of Jesus, and His kingdom into our daily lives and into the city?

Will Jesus, the humble King continues to be welcomed into our hearts? Will He be welcomed into our cities and our communities? Or will He be rejected and kept out by walled up gates? Love beckons so that the humble King be welcomed with shouts of Alleluias and Hosannas!

Prayer

Jesus, humble King, the gate of my heart is open to welcome You! Help me and the community where I belong to make sure the entry gates are also open to You and Your kingdom of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Alleluia! Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord! Peace, and glory in the highest heaven! Amen.

Reverend Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto, General Secretary of the World Methodist Council