This Sunday starts off the Holy Week leading up to Easter. On Palm Sunday, we celebrate and remember when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, down from the Mount of Olives, and large crowds praised Him as King and Messiah.

“So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. ‘Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!’” (Luke 19:35-38)

Jesus fulfilled 108 prophecies while He walked the earth, and riding the colt of a donkey into the Holy City was one of them.

“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” (Zechariah 9:9)

“‘Go into that village over there,’ he (Jesus) told them. ‘As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:30-31)

Not everyone was happy about Jesus fulfilling this prophecy. It would have been obvious to everyone what was happening: this was a non-deniable act of prophecy fulfillment—Jesus was declaring Himself as Messiah and the people confirmed it with their praises. The Pharisees, however, did not approve of the people praising Jesus.

“But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, ‘Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!’ He replied, ‘If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!’” (Luke 19:39-40)

Even the rocks would burst into cheers and praise their Creator! All creation longs to cry out and praise our God, but it’s not just people that are subject to the curse of sin.

“The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.” (Isaiah 24:5-6)

“Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:20-22)

As Jesus hung on the cross, day became like night. When Jesus died, the earth shook and split the Temple. Even today we can see the signs of creation longing to praise its Creator. Over 18,000 earthquakes in just under a week began to awaken volcanoes in Iceland where, until a few days ago, there hasn’t been an eruption in over 800 years. Just a few days ago a volcano that was dormant for six thousand years has erupted in Iceland. This world will try and find other ways to explain it, but believers know and see when the creation cries out for its Creator. Just as we followers of Christ long for His return, all of Creation does as well. This Palm Sunday, and every day, join with the rocks and all of Creation, crying out in praise of our Lord and Creator.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed