March 29, 2026
Have you ever loved something that lots of other people don’t? One thing I loved was the TV show: Stranger Things, which has five seasons. I watched the different seasons several times. I wanted my family to love it, but they didn’t. I got Kevin to watch it with me all the way to the end. I had to explain some things to him because he didn’t rewatch it. When it ended, there were all these stories in the news about how bad the finale was, which wasn’t fair! It was great, I loved it! Stranger Things was something you either loved, or you didn’t.
Jesus is a little like Stranger Things. Just for this, during his time if you asked someone what they thought of Jesus, nobody just yawned and said “meh”. People either loved him or hated him.
Today is Palm Sunday! We remember when Jesus came in a joyful procession to Jerusalem! He rode on a donkey, and the donkey’s baby came along too. People spread their coats and palm branches on the road in front of Jesus to honor him! They shouted, “Hosanna,” which meant “praise”, or “save!” “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” They treated Jesus like he was a king! In Matt 21:10, As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the whole city asked, “Who is this?”
in Matthew 21:4-5, the gospel writer explains why Jesus rides on a donkey to Jerusalem in a parade: “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: (Zechariah 9:9) Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.’”
Jesus came as king! And what’s so interesting about this title is whether people were serious or sarcastic, both sides of the debate, those who followed him and those who hated him, called him “King”.
Jesus was called king in the beginning of Matthew’s gospel. The wisemen travel from the east, and they ask, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” They want to honor Jesus as king. When Jesus goes to the cross, he is also called “King of the Jews”, but not to honor him. It is said to ridicule and humiliate him. Matthew 27:29 says, “they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him, “Hail King of the Jews!” They thought the idea of King Jesus was laughable!
There was another procession of a very powerful man who entered the West side of Jerusalem before the Jewish feast of Passover, around the same time Jesus came to Jerusalem. That very powerful man was the Roman governor, Pilate. He didn’t live in Jerusalem. He lived in Caesarea by the Mediterranean Sea. He came to Jerusalem at the time of Passover every year because many Jews would be in Jerusalem for the religious holiday. Pilate entered the city with a procession of soldiers, chariots and horses. He came dressed for battle. Pilate was putting on a show of force, so the people would be afraid to riot or revolt. To the Jews, Pilate seemed like a king, like a powerful ruler, although they hated him. When you compare Jesus’ entry on the east side, a simple procession, Jesus in plain clothes, gentle and riding on a donkey, while Pilate enters Jerusalem on the West side, on a big horse, in military uniform, with soldiers and chariots. Which of the two looked most like a king? Pilate. Jesus seemed like the opposite of a king. But he was the best king. He was a king who didn’t come to strike you down if you made a mistake. He came to lift you up, to save you, and to make God known to you.
The apostle Paul spoke about how Jesus was so different from peoples’ expectations of a king in 1 Corinthians 1:22-26. Paul said, “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
Pilate came into Jerusalem ready to kill. Jesus entered Jerusalem, ready to suffer and give up his life for the sake of the world. Jesus endured crucifixion, which the Romans used to send a message. They would crucify slaves, terrorists and anyone who attempted a revolt. It was the most shameful and humiliating way to die. This is why the apostle Paul said Jesus’ death on a cross is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. Because it’s like Jesus died in an electric chair. It was degrading. When Jesus was crucified, bystanders mocked him. Because what King—what God—would allow himself to be killed? Let alone be killed on a cross?
Jesus seemed like the opposite of a king, but he was the best king! He was willing to do whatever it takes to save us! He was willing to die in a humiliating way. He chose to suffer. Who is Jesus? He is God. He is revealed as Christ and Messiah, through his suffering. The Apostle Paul said, “the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
Matthew 27:50-51 talks about Jesus’ death. It says, “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.”
Verse 54 says,When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” The same soldiers who mocked, beat and spit on Jesus hours before, say after he died, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Jesus was a king, but he was unlike a king. It was only after he died that the soldiers recognized he must have been a God! They thought Jesus the king was foolishness. But the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom.
In the end they saw that Jesus was the son of God! In our world, power, money, strength and looking good seem to be so important! But Jesus stepped into the mess of our world and embraced humility, weakness, love and forgiveness. Jesus came to save us from sin and death, and to bring us near to God.
My challenge for you is to ask yourself, “Do you see the wisdom of the foolishness of God, and the strength of the weakness of God?”
Jesus was a very different king, but a much better king than any other! He was a king who willingly died for His people, rather than sending His people to die for Him. He was a King who used His power for the good of his people, rather than abusing his power for his own gain. Some people loved him. Some people hated him. Just about every one of his followers left him when he went to the cross. It was hard for them to imagine what good God could possibly bring out of intense suffering, tragedy and humiliation. But then came the resurrection! It showed God is in control! Jesus is a different king, but actually the best king, and following him in humility, love and service is different, but it’s the best way. It is the opportunity of a lifetime! Amen.
Maureen Duffy-Guy's blog 