In thinking about Palm Sunday, I went back and read through Matthew 21:1-11. Here we read about Jesus telling His disciples to get the donkey colt for Him. Then, fulfilling prophecy, He rode on the colt through the streets and people cut palm branches to throw on the ground with their cloaks for Him to ride over. There were crowds that went ahead of Him and behind Him shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:25, 26) “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
As I was talking to my husband, the wisest man I know, about this story, he inspired me with very cool insight about Palm Sunday. He said, “Remember the children were still praising Jesus long after the adults had stopped praising Him.” Whoa! What cool insight!
We see this when we read Matthew 21:12-17. When Jesus got to the temple, He went into the courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He quoted from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 saying, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” He healed the blind and lame who came to Him.
All the while, the children were still shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The adults had stopped shouting. The chief priests and the teachers of the law became indignant and asked Jesus if He heard what they were shouting. Jesus said “Yes.” And quoted from Psalm 8:2, “Have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants You, Lord, have called forth praise.’”
God was calling forth praise from the children. Have you ever been driving home from church and your kids were still singing? There was no more music playing and, yet, the songs of truth were still in their hearts and pouring out from them. What a beautiful reminder from the children in the story and the children in our cars that we need to still praise even when the ceremony and services are done. Praising Him should flow from us as we rejoice in the hope we have in Jesus as our coming King and present Savior!
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:9; Psalm 118:25-26
What things can you place around your home or in your car to remind you to still praise no matter the circumstance?
