Strength from Thorns

Holy Week

Just enough faith to make it to Friday.

Palm Sunday

There’s something about horses that have always captivated me. They are breathtakingly beautiful, strong and powerful. I have wanted one since I was a little girl. But in biblical times, horses were mainly used for battle. Kings and armies used horses and chariots to show their strength and dominance.

But when the One True King entered Jerusalem, He didn’t ask for a Friesian or Shire horse in gold tack and harness. He asked for a donkey colt. That is how you know Jesus isn’t of this earth, earthly Kings have something to prove and Jesus had nothing to prove to anyone.

The time had finally come for Jesus to reveal that He is Lord. He knew it would cause an uproar so showing up on a powerful horse would have really displayed dominion and authority. That is exactly what people expect from a king.

But Jesus didn’t come to impress anyone. He came completely humble. He rode in on a donkey to bring peace. Not to conquer by force, but to conquer hearts. Not to elevate Himself, but to fulfill His purpose. Because the One True King didn’t need a big, majestic royal horse to prove who He was. Luke 19:30 tells us “that the donkey has never even been ridden.” The donkey wasn’t trained experienced or prepared. It was ordinary and overlooked. As I began thinking about it I really can relate to the donkey. It wasn’t strong, trained, or prepared. It was simply available. In many ways, my suffering feels like that. I don’t feel strong. I don’t feel prepared. My body feels weak. But, maybe God is still choosing me not because of my strength, but because of His purpose.

The donkey didn’t carry Jesus to comfort but to the cross. It’s not about the strength or its size but about who was riding it, who is directing his steps.

At that time Isreal was under Roman occupation, they forced people to pay high taxes, controlled their land and enforced authority. So, the crowds were expecting this Messiah to come and save them from all of that. That is why they lined the streets and were yelling and cheering “HOSANNA” meaning save us NOW. They waved palm branches and celebrated for the relief that their long-awaited King had finally come to deliver them. Jesus did come to rescue them but not from what they would expect. I think about what a joyous time that must have been until we get to Luke 19:41 “As Jesus came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.” Jesus knew that the same people who were celebrating Him didn’t truly understand who He was. They were more concerned about having an earthly rescuer, rather than a heavenly Savior. While everyone else saw a victory Jesus saw lost hearts and coming pain. He knew the destruction that would eventually happen because of their rejection.

We do today exactly what they did back then only we know better, they didn’t. The same thing that Jesus wept about for them makes him weep for us now.

How often do we cry out “HOSANNA, SAVE ME NOW,” asking Jesus to remove our suffering, fix our circumstances, or change our situation? We want relief from the pain, just like they wanted relief from Rome.

I am definitely guilty of this, I still cry out for healing. I want to trust but I also want the pain to end. I want to know how much longer will you leave me like this God???

In my walk with Christ, he is opening my eyes that I am just like the crowd, I am expecting the rescue that I WANT while Jesus may be offering something much deeper. I am asking for physical healing and he is building a spiritual healing. I am begging for the storm to stop and he’s teaching me to trust him IN it.

We celebrate Him when He meets our expectations, but what happens when He doesn’t? Do we even praise him when things are good? Or do we only go to him when we need something from him?

When Jesus didn’t rescue them in the way they expected him to, their praise quickly turned into condemnation. They got angry with him and rejected him. The same people who were cheering for their King on Sunday… would be yelling “Crucify Him” on Friday.

I am so emotional when I think that Jesus knew ALL of this and

He still chose the donkey

He still chose the cross.

He still chose to do it for us.


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