March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday Text: Zechariah 9:9-10
Dear Friends in Christ,
When have you hung your head? Were you discouraged? Did you hang it in shame? Or were you just so upset about something that you just had to bury your head in your hands? Any number of things can cause us to hang our head.
The Jews’ heads were hanging. They felt defeated. Sure, the temple had been rebuilt and Herod had done some renovations, but they still didn’t have real freedom. They were subject to the Romans who told them what to do and how to do it. They longed for the glory that was once Israel’s. But someone shouted, “Look up! Here comes your King!”
We are not subject to a King, and we have our freedom, but there are times we feel defeated. We are subject to sin and the effects of our actions. We long for simpler times and what we might perceive as the glory days. Then we hear today . . .
“LOOK UP TO SEE YOUR KING!”
“Look! Up in the sky! It’s bird! It’s a plane! No…it’s Superman!” And with that, everyone looked up to see their hero coming to the rescue.
The Jews of Jerusalem were so excited to have Jesus come to their city. They didn’t need to hang their heads anymore. They didn’t need to look in the sky for their hero, all they needed to do was to look on the back of donkey.
Here was the long-promised Messiah, their conquering hero. Their salvation from the Romans, from poverty and sickness and suffering. Look up and see Him. Spread your coats and palms to welcome him. Shout loud hosannas to honor him.
When Zechariah told the people to shout, he used a word that was a battle cry. How hopeful the Jews were that their King was going to wage war against the Romans.
They had already seen him raise fallen troops back to life, end the need for supply lines as he multiplied loaves and fish, and destroy the enemy once for all.
But on a donkey? Superman would never come like this. Where is the superhuman strength or the lasers from his eyes? Shouldn’t he at least be on a golden chariot with white stallions? Instead, he comes gently, humbly, peacefully…on a donkey. Much more relatable, wouldn’t you say? He was not seeking glory but seeking to deliver the oppressed.
They were looking for a Superman who would destroy Rome and bring them national peace. Shortly they would look up and see him on a cross. Why would this man who once walked through an angry mob allow himself to be arrested? Why did he who raised the dead allow himself to die? They must have wanted to hang their heads again.
We often look up to Jesus and wonder: Why does the omnipotent God allow my body to break down? Why does he allow my relationships to fall apart? Why does he let me struggle with finances and worry? Why doesn’t he save me from suffering and pain? Why doesn’t my Superman Savior save me from my troubles?
Because he is not that kind of king. He didn’t come to wage war on poverty or disease or to take away your pain and make life easy. If let your disappointment in what Jesus doesn’t do for you invade your thoughts, you are tempted to reject him like the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
You need to know what kind of King he is: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation.” (v. 9a). Look up. Don’t hang your head in shame. He won peace between you and God by defeating the old evil foe. He stayed faithful every time you went AWOL with God. His righteous record is credited to you, making you perfect in God’s sight.
So, if Jesus did all this why do we still have wars and crashed planes and traitors and murdered families? Because, he is still not that kind of King.
Outside a wall of the United Nations are the words from Isaiah 2:4 which describe a world of peace. But since that first Palm Sunday, there have only been wars and rumors of wars. Jesus said as much. So, the promise of “peace to the nations…from the River to the ends of the earth” must mean something different.
Jesus is the real Peacemaker. His atoning death brough us peace from guilt and shame. Someday, wars will end. Someday, we will have peace from all our problems. Someday, we will have no need for headphones. Just not yet. We look up to the skies when our King will return, not on a donkey but riding on the clouds. He will bring a perfect, permanent peace.
Let’s look up. Your King is riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to be the conquering hero. Look up to your King on the cross, paying with his blood for our peace with God. And look up when He returns again to put an end to all conflict. In the meantime, shout his praises, “your king is coming to you.”
Amen.