It is the paradox of Messiah’s earth bound reality. Jesus enters Jerusalem with royal praise and approval, seated humbly on the back of a donkey. And make no mistake about it; the donkey was a strategic part of the story. It was a symbol of peace, not war.

He came in peace but by the end of the week they would make war against Him and He would be brutally assaulted and crucified. At the end of this horrific week they would place a placard on the cross proclaiming Jesus to be the King He really is. And what kind of king is He? He is a King who rules by self-giving and who wins by losing.

Palm Sunday reminds us that things are not always the way they seem. Death can masquerade as life. Evil can impersonate good. Hate can rest just beneath the surface of praise, and the accolades of Hosanna can quickly turn to “Crucify Him.”

But then we ought not to be surprised at the Holy Week’s turn of events. Jesus said it was a must that He go to “Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and… be killed” (Matt. 16:21). Now we find ourselves at the beginning of the week Jesus said would happen.

Of course, Jesus also said something else. He said that after the suffering and dying He would, “on the third day be raised to life” (Matt. 16:21). That changes things a bit, doesn’t it? Indeed, suffering is not the last word and neither is death. After every word that can be spoken in this world one marvelous, wonderful and awesome word remains ~~ Resurrection.