For The Valley Series - Palm Sunday: Celebrating Christ

This week, we look at Palm Sunday and see the celebrating that is going on as Jesus enters Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-16). The people really are celebrating for the wrong reason- they think that political salvation is coming to them in the form of Jesus. Little do they know that their celebrating is for something far greater- their eternal salvation from the punishment of sin. It is a profound moment as Jesus enters into suffering willingly, as the joy that God has in making a way for us to know Him outweighs the pain that must come to pave that way. On this side of the cross, we can now celebrate for the right reason- that when Jesus comes into Jerusalem, we have a person to anchor our hope in and to lay our burdens on. We can celebrate that Jesus came for us, and we can celebrate others as we see that Jesus came for them too. As we contemplate the value that Jesus sees in each person, we can better care for the needs, desires, and eternities of those around us.