This Sunday: From Hosanna to the Cross

This Sunday is Palm Sunday.

Which means it’s also Passion Sunday.

We’re going to start the service waving palms and shouting “Hosanna!” We’re going to celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem as king.

And then—in the same service—we’re going to hear the passion story. The betrayal. The trial. The crucifixion.

We’re going to hold triumph and tragedy together.

Because that’s what Palm Sunday is. It’s both. It’s hosannas and crosses. It’s celebration and sorrow. It’s the crowd shouting “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” and then, five days later, shouting “Crucify him!”

It’s whiplash. It’s disorienting. It’s uncomfortable.

And it’s honest.

Because life is like that, isn’t it? Triumph and tragedy all mixed together. Joy and sorrow in the same breath. Hosannas on Sunday and crosses by Friday.

So here’s what I’ve been wondering this week:

Where are you holding triumph and tragedy together right now?

Maybe you’re celebrating something good—a new job, a healed relationship, a moment of clarity—but you’re also grieving something you’ve lost.

Maybe you’re grateful for what you have, but you’re also exhausted by what it’s costing you.

Maybe you’re hopeful about the future, but you’re also scared.

Palm Sunday says: You can hold both. You don’t have to choose. You don’t have to pretend everything is fine when it’s not. You don’t have to hide your grief in order to celebrate your joy.

Jesus enters Jerusalem knowing what’s coming. He knows the hosannas will turn to “Crucify him!” He knows the palms will become a cross. He knows the triumph will become tragedy.

And he enters anyway.

Because grace meets us in both. In the hosannas and in the silence. In the joy and in the sorrow. In the triumph and in the tragedy.

This Sunday, we’ll wave our palms. And we’ll hear the passion. And we’ll hold it all together.

See you Sunday.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Travis