03/31/2026
NOT THE HERO THEY EXPECTED
One of my favorite comic book heroes growing up was Batman. I loved the TV show, Michael Keaton’s portrayal, and now Christian Bale as the Dark Knight. What makes Batman so fascinating is that people see him differently depending on where they stand. The powerful and established often see him as disruptive and threatening because he does not fit their categories or serve their interests. But the vulnerable often see him as a symbol of protection, sacrifice, and hope.
That contrast helps illuminate Palm Sunday.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds welcomed Him with cries of “Hosanna!” They were hoping for a hero of power—a Messiah who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s strength. But Jesus did not arrive on a war horse. He came riding on a donkey, a sign of humility and peace. He was not the hero they expected, but He was the King they needed.
As the story unfolds Jesus makes it clear that His mission will not be fulfilled through force, but through sacrifice. When some Greeks come seeking Him, Jesus announces that His hour has come. Yet the glory He speaks of is not political triumph, but the cross. He is the hero who walks toward the darkness, not away from it. He does not avoid suffering or sidestep the cost. He embraces the mission the Father has given Him.
This is where Jesus overturns our expectations. The world looks for victory through domination, power, and control. Jesus reveals that the greatest victory comes through surrender, obedience, and love. He did not come to crush Rome. He came to defeat sin, death, and the devil. He was lifted up on the cross and lifted up in glory, drawing people to Himself through sacrificial love.
Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus was not the hero the people expected, but the Savior they desperately needed. He entered Jerusalem in humility, walked straight toward the cross, and gave His life for us.
And that leaves each of us with a question: will we keep Jesus at a distance, or will we take Him seriously? The One who gave Himself fully for us now invites us to trust Him, follow Him, and surrender ourselves fully to Him.
“When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:7–11 NLT
