When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds were at a fever pitch. People lined the streets, throwing down palm branches and cloaks, celebrating what they believed would be their political liberation. The Messiah had arrived, and in their minds, the Romans would soon be overthrown. Life was about to get convenient.
But Jesus knew better.
The King Who Knew What Was Coming
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, He carried knowledge that would have stopped most of us in our tracks. He knew the cheering crowds would soon turn against Him. He understood that His closest disciples would abandon Him in His darkest hour. He could see the cross waiting, the tomb being sealed, and the weight of humanity’s sin He would bear.
Yet He entered anyway.
This raises a profound question: Why would Jesus willingly walk into suffering when He knew exactly what awaited Him?
More Than Just the Destination
The answer reveals something beautiful about the character of God: Jesus isn’t just present at the end of our story—He’s with us through every moment in between.
Consider the story of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. When Lazarus died, his sisters were devastated. They had sent word to Jesus, hoping He would come heal their brother. But Jesus delayed, and by the time He arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.
Mary and Martha were stuck in the worst moment of their lives. All they could see was death and loss surrounding them. Their hope seemed buried in that tomb with their brother.
But then Jesus showed up and declared something revolutionary: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
Where Jesus Is, There Is Always Hope
This is the heart of the gospel message. Jesus doesn’t just meet us at our destination—He walks with us through the difficult middle parts of our journey. When life feels overwhelming, when circumstances seem impossible, when all we can see is darkness, Jesus is present.
The same Savior who wept with Mary and Martha over Lazarus’s death is the One who weeps with you in your pain. The same Jesus who knew the cross was coming but entered Jerusalem anyway is the One who walks with you through your hardest seasons.
Peace in His Presence
Where Jesus is, there is always peace to be found. Not because our circumstances magically change, but because we’re not facing them alone. He doesn’t promise to remove every trial, but He does promise to be present in every trial.
Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing the full weight of what was ahead because He knew how the story would end. Death wouldn’t have the final word. The tomb wouldn’t stay sealed. Resurrection was coming.
Your In-Between Moments Matter
Whatever you’re facing today—whether it’s uncertainty, grief, fear, or disappointment—remember that Jesus is present in your in-between moments. He’s not waiting at the finish line; He’s walking beside you right now.
Just as He transformed Mary and Martha’s darkest moment into a testimony of His power, He can bring hope and healing to your situation. The God who raised Lazarus from the dead is the same God who holds your future.
Where Jesus is, there is always hope. There is always peace to be found when He is near.
Are you facing an in-between moment today? Remember that Jesus meets us in the mess, not just at the destination. His presence brings hope even when circumstances seem hopeless.
