Excited about Jesus

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
- John 12:12-13

This upcoming Sunday is Palm Sunday. After a controversial season of ministry in Galilee, Jesus travelled to Jerusalem and entered the city to the roaring adulation of the crowds. In the culture at the time, people used palm branches symbolically to denote triumph and victory. The city of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus as a victorious king and honored him.

The crowd would change its tune in the next week. But Palm Sunday stands as a joyful calm before the storm.

There was much for the people to be excited about. Jesus worked miracles that shouted of the coming kingdom of God: healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, casting out demons … even raising the dead.

And he taught with an unusual authority. Hearts burned when he spoke. Sinners changed their course. Even the powerful listened to him.

The people were filled with hope. Could this man be the one who would fulfill their hopes for freedom and reconciliation? Could this man heal their nation? Could this man be the Messiah?

We also have lots to be excited about when it comes to Jesus. Thinking about him and talking about him fills us with joy. We’re grateful for what he’s done for us. We love spending time with him. Even when things in our lives are difficult, there’s a part of us that continues burn with excitement for Jesus.

What reasons do you have to be excited about Jesus? List a few and reflect on them today.

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