One of the greatest mistakes in life isn’t missing something unimportant—it’s missing something that matters. Something that is right in front of us… and we completely overlook it. That’s exactly what happened on the first Palm Sunday.
Thousands lined the streets of Jerusalem shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” They were close to Jesus—yet many still missed who He really was. And it’s possible for us to do the same.
The Promised King
Zechariah wrote about this moment 500 years before it happened: “Behold, your King is coming to you . . . .” God wasn’t reacting to history—He was unfolding a plan. Every prophecy pointed to Jesus so that when He came, people would recognize Him.
The same is true for us today. Think about this for a moment:
You can trust a God who keeps His promises—even when you don’t understand His timing.
The Unexpected King
The prophecy says this King would come “lowly… riding on a donkey.”
That wasn’t what people expected.
They wanted:
- Power
- Political victory
- Changed circumstances
But God sent something better:
- A humble King
- A Savior from sin
- A changer of hearts
Many missed Jesus because He wasn’t the King they were looking for—He was the King they needed. And, if we’re honest, we struggle with the same thing.
We say we want a King . . . but often we want an advisor—someone who gives input but doesn’t take control. But a king doesn’t advise your life—he rules it.
The Saving King
Zechariah says this King is “righteous and having salvation.” That’s where Christianity is radically different from religion.
Religion says DO: Work harder. Be better. Earn your way.
Christianity says DONE: Jesus has already done for you what you could never do for yourself.
Salvation isn’t about striving—it’s about receiving. Palm Sunday wasn’t about a coronation—it was about a cross. Jesus knew where that road led, and He went anyway… for you and for me.
The Peace-Bringing King
This King would “speak peace to the nations.” Not peace through force—but peace through reconciliation. Not by crushing enemies—but by dealing with our sin. And His mission didn’t stop in Jerusalem. It extends to the ends of the earth—and that includes us.
Don’t Miss Him
On Palm Sunday, there were two crowds: one shouted, “Hosanna!”, another would soon shout, “Crucify Him!”. Both crowds still exist today. It’s easy to say the right words. It’s harder to truly surrender. So, here’s the question:
Have you received Him—or are you missing Him?
Jesus didn’t come to be an advisor in your life. He came to be your King.
And the good news is this:
He paid it all. Not some of it—all of it.
