But Jesus did something unexpected. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah: “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9) In the ancient world, kings rode horses when they went to war. Horses symbolized conquest, military strength, and domination. But when a king came in peace, he rode a donkey. By choosing the donkey, Jesus was sending a message: He was not a king of war. He was a king of peace.

Jesus offers a completely different vision of leadership. In His kingdom, greatness is measured by service. Power is revealed through humility. Victory comes through sacrifice. This is the paradox of Christian leadership: the King who saves the world does not rule from a throne of gold, but from a cross of wood. And perhaps one of the greatest challenges of our time is that we are slowly losing sight of this model.

Many people still admire Jesus, just as the crowd did on Palm Sunday. They are happy to wave palm branches—to celebrate Him, quote Him, and even praise Him. But admiration is not the same as discipleship.


The crowd praised Jesus when they thought He would fulfill their expectations. But when it became clear that His kingdom was not political, when He refused to become the leader they imagined, the same voices soon cried out, “Crucify Him!” That is the danger we face today as well.

When faith becomes shaped by our expectations rather than by Christ’s example, we begin to lose sight of the heart of the Gospel. Holy Week reminds us that the world’s logic is not the Gospel’s logic. The world says: win at all costs. Jesus says: love at all costs. The world says: defend your pride. Jesus says: take up your cross. The world says: hold on to anger. Jesus says: forgive seventy times seven.

As followers of Christ, we must be careful not to allow the attitudes of the world to shape our hearts. The road from Palm Sunday to Easter passes through the Cross, and on that Cross Jesus shows us the true power of love and forgiveness.

Holy Week is not meant to be experienced only on Easter Sunday; it is a sacred journey that unfolds step by step through the Church’s Liturgies. By attending the celebrations of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, we enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s love for us.

On Holy Thursday, we remember the Last Supper where Jesus gave us the gift of the Eucharist, the priesthood, and the commandment to love one another through humble service, symbolized in the washing of the feet.

Christ the King Church

199 Brandon Rd, Pleasant Hill CA