In this episode of Your Week with St. Luke’s, Pastor Jad reflects on the Palm Sunday story from Matthew 21 as the culmination of the Lenten Crossroads series, inviting listeners to wrestle with the tension between expectation and the way of Jesus. While the crowds shout the right words— “Hosanna” and “Son of David”—they misunderstand the kind of king Jesus is, expecting power and triumph while he embodies humility, gentleness, and sacrificial love, entering on a donkey rather than a war horse. Matthew’s telling reveals that it’s possible to say all the right things about Jesus and still miss his way entirely, as the same crowd that praises him will later turn against him. This episode challenges listeners to examine their own expectations of Jesus and consider whether they are willing to follow a king whose path leads not to spectacle or success, but to surrender, nonviolence, and the cross—especially as they prepare to enter the journey of Holy Week. 

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