Scripture for Today: John 13:13 “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.'”

I can just imagine the scene when the people, in their enthusiasm for Jesus, waved palm branches at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The branches they waved may have come from the Judean Date Palm. The only example is found at Kibbutz Ketura in Israel. It was brought back from extinction in 2005 from a 2,000 year old seed from Masada! Waving these large long palm leaves would have taken some effort!

Today’s verse comes from a surprising scene that was prophesied in the Psalms (Psalm, 118:25-26). The people were hailing Jesus as a political liberator. This great crowd shouted their praise of “Hosanna” meaning “Save!” They wanted a king. They wanted to break away from Roman rule. They did not realize that before He returns as King of Kings, He would suffer as their sacrificial Lamb, taking on the punishment of their sin and ours. When He did not do as they expected, this same crowd would later that week turn on Jesus.

Jesus will one day return as King of King and Lord of Lords. And although He is all powerful, He continues to do things differently from what I expect of Him. I want Him to establish His kingdom now, but he waits. He gives more opportunity for people to come to Him. He is just and I want to see Him punish the wicked now but He has His own timetable. I do not want to be fickle in my worship of Him. Whether I understand what He is doing or not, I want to trust His heart and plan in every circumstance!

Thank you Lord, that You are always worthy of praise!

Photo Credit: DA Sonnenfeld at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Methuselah-Ketura-2018-10.jpg