A few years ago, a man told me about something that happened at his workplace. There was a younger employee who made a mistake – an expensive one. Everyone knew it. The boss knew it. And the atmosphere in the office changed instantly. People whispered. Some were quietly glad it was not them. Others kept their distance. The man told me, “I had a choice in that moment. I could step back and protect myself…or I could step forward.
And he did something small - but risky. He went and stood next to the young employee. He said, “We’ll fix this together.” Later, when the boss came in angry, he did not throw the young man under the bus. He shared responsibility. He said, “It cost me something. But it felt like the right thing.”
That moment, simple as it was – was a Palm Sunday moment. Because when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He came on a donkey – humble, vulnerable, peaceful. And at the same time, from the other side of the city, Pontius Pilate entered with soldiers, weapons, and power on display. Two processions. Two visions of power. Two ways of living.
One says, protect yourself. Stay safe. Stay in control. Don’t get involved. The other says, step forward. Take the risk. Stand with someone. Love, even when it costs you.
That man chose the way of Christ.
And that is the choice before us – not just once, but every day.
When someone is being criticized – do we join in or do we stand beside them? When someone is struggling – do we look away, or do we step closer? When it might cost us something – our comfort, our security, our reputation, our time – do we still choose love? Because it will cost us something.
Choices – we all face them – personally and communally: a donkey or a war horse, palm branches or weapons, laying down one’s life for another or taking down another for one’s own benefit. This is not just a historical event in Jerusalem. Today we are all Jerusalem. The choices are before us and within us. And Pilate is as real today as he was the day Jesus entered Jerusalem.
The same crowd that waved palms for Jesus would soon disappear when things got difficult. And the question for us is: will we?
Because it is easy to wave palms. It is easy to say “Hosana.” It is harder to walk the road that comes after. So here is the line to remember: When the moment comes this week – and it will – don’t just wave the palm - walk the path!
Walk with Christ.
Walk it in love.
Walk it all the way to the cross – because that is the only road that leads to resurrection.