To Welcome the King 03.29.2026

Is Jesus only the king we celebrate when things feel triumphant and good in our lives? Or is he the king we follow even when the road becomes difficult and it's hard to travel? The good news of this Lenten season, the good news of our whole series that we've been walking through during these Lenten days is that it's not too late to welcome the king, not too late to open our lives to Christ transforming love, not too late to follow the path of humility and compassion he sets before us, and not too late to join the work of God's kingdom. [00:41:44] (44 seconds)  #WelcomeTheKing

A kingdom built not on domination or fear, but on justice, equity, mercy, and grace. Today, Jesus still comes, still comes to us, not with armies, not with force, but with the quiet strength strength of love. The same love that carried him into Jerusalem long ago, the same love that carried him to a cross, the same love that will rise again on Easter morning conquering death and sin for good. [00:42:28] (45 seconds)  #KingdomOfLove

He can rise above sin and death and shame and walk out of an empty tomb, leaving all the things that keep us bound behind him. So today today, we stand with the crowd, we wave our palms, we sing our hosannas, god save us. But the question still lingers in the air for many of us and for many outside in the world. Who is this? [00:41:05] (39 seconds)  #PalmsAndQuestions

Our world admires strength and influence and control however you can get it. But the kingdom of God looks different. In the kingdom of God, greatness looks like humility. Power looks like serving. Victory looks like love that refuses to give up. Palm Sunday invites us to see that kind of king clearly. [00:38:36] (38 seconds)  #GreatnessIsHumility

And as holy week begins, may we not only wave the palms, may we also open our hearts and welcome the king who comes in humility and whose love can and will change the world. And upon accepting him, may our lives exhibit the fruit that will show others that they too are loved and held in the heart of God. [00:43:41] (45 seconds)  #WelcomeWithOpenHearts

Who is this? And that question sits right at the center of Palm Sunday. Who is this? Who is this king riding into Jerusalem? Because the way we answer that question changes everything. The people welcoming Jesus that day believed they knew who he was and what he was sent to do. They had hopes. They had dreams, expectations for what he would do and what he would bring. [00:31:48] (42 seconds)  #CrowdExpectations

But it was symbolic of peace instead of dominance, a sign that his kingdom operates differently than all other kingdoms in this world. And while the crowds shout with joy, something deeper is already unfolding. Because the road Jesus is riding down does not lead to a throne gilded in gold, it leads to a cross. [00:35:36] (28 seconds)  #PeaceNotPower

And if we're honest, we may recognize ourselves in the crowd. Because we often want Jesus to be the kind of king who solves our problems quickly. We want the triumphant parade. We want the victory that brings dominance. We want celebration. But Jesus invites us to something deeper and more meaningful. [00:39:14] (26 seconds)  #BeyondTriumph