Holy Week Resource - Palm Sunday

April 13, 2025

holy week resource - palm sunday

Today has been so exciting! Jesus is about to be established and do something great! We were all shouting and welcoming Him as he rode into Jerusalem on a colt. We shouted ‘Hosanna’ and waved palm branches hailing Him as our new and coming King!

“On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.’” (John 12:12-13)

There were so many people welcoming and watching Jesus! Because He raised Lazarus from the dead, the city is all a-buzz about Him, some thoroughly believing in Him but of course many are angry and I might add, jealous of the attention and accolades He is receiving. Some Greeks also came looking for Him later and He started talking about death. He was saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in the world will keep to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. Now my soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (John 12:23-28a)

Then, a voice came from heaven and it thundered, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (John 11:28) Some thought it was an angel speaking! Jesus told us the voice was for our sakes and that judgment was upon the world and the ruler of this world would be cast out. And He said, “If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32)

By the end of the day, we were emotionally spent. We were elated and celebrating, then amazed and confused. We were all trying to process it all and understand what Jesus was really saying.

Your Response:

As you imagine these two scenes what would you have been thinking and feeling? Take time to rejoice in the “Hosanna moment” of today, Palm Sunday. Would you have loved to be there? Spend time in prayer, asking the Lord to give you deeper insights into the events of this week with a new depth as you read these Holy Week devotional stories.

by Lee Ann Postma, College Station, TX
Body & Soul® Spiritual Impact Team

Body and Soul® Fitness is an international Christian fitness organization that trains and equips instructors to lead a variety of group fitness programs including choreographed aerobics-style Cardio Strength & Flexibility™, cardio dance style Dance Blast™, free-weights-focused Power Strength™, boot camp style FIT360™ and Longevity FIT360™, and GOLD™ - lower impact programming for participants that are pregnant, have weight challenges, injuries, or other medical conditions. These exercise classes meet in church gyms, community centers, gymnasiums, parking lots, schools, etc. across the United States, Europe, and Africa. In-person and virtual fitness classes are available.

Key words: Christian fitness, women's exercise classes, group fitness, dance aerobics classes, Christian group fitness, Christian fitness app, FitTV, Body & Soul, Body and Soul, fitness instuctor training, low impact exercise