Daily Archive

If I could describe Palm Sunday in one word, it would be expectations.

That may seem a bit odd. Traditionally, we focus on Jesus—the Messiah—riding into Jerusalem, crowds shouting, palms waving… a huge celebration leading into Passion Week. And all of that is true. But underneath it all… there were expectations, and most of them were wrong.

Expectations are a strong belief that something will happen or should happen. They shape how we see things, how we respond, and how we feel. They don’t just reflect reality; they can define it.

When we look at Palm Sunday, three areas of expectations come in to play.

First of all, there are expectations of others. The expectations of others can become self-fulfilling. As parents, spouses, at work, or socially, we all carry expectations shaped by past experiences. People often rise—or fall—to what’s expected of them. But when expectations don’t match reality, it can lead to frustration, disillusionment, and broken relationships.

Second, there are expectations we have of ourselves. These can shape our identity. Healthy expectations lead to growth. Unrealistic ones lead to burnout, guilt, and feeling “not enough.” When our worth is tied to performance, failure feels personal. We say “I am a failure” instead of saying “I failed at something.” The former leads to a defeatist attitude, the latter leads to growth.

A third area of expectations on Palm Sunday has to say with the expectations people hadof Jesus. Everyone on that first Palm Sunday had them. The Jews expected a political Savior. The disciples expected positions of power. The Pharisees expected justice on their terms. And when Jesus didn’t meet those expectations, the same crowd shouting “Hosanna!” would soon shout “Crucify Him!”

Not because Jesus failed, But because He didn’t fit what they wanted. He didn’t fill their expectations.

The Jews wanted a king to overthrow Rome—Jesus came to deal with sin.

The Pharisees wanted rules—Jesus wanted relationship.

The disciples wanted power—Jesus chose the cross.

They all wanted comfort—Jesus promised His presence in trouble.

So what about us?

What do you expect from Jesus? Control or transformation? Performance or relationship? Your way or surrender? Comfort or trust?

Let’s be honest—we bring failure, doubt, worry, and pride. But here’s the good news: Jesus already knows that. And He meets us there with grace.

Palm Sunday reminds us: the issue isn’t whether Jesus meets our expectations… it’s whether we trust Him when He doesn’t.

The same crowd praised Him, then walked away.

So the question is simple:

What will you do with Jesus when He doesn’t meet your expectations?