On Palm Sunday, we celebrate and remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the shouts of praise and victory. Of course, we know that it was only a few days later that Jesus was crucified. That contrast can make Palm Sunday seem empty or tragic. Yet in a real sense, Palm Sunday told the truth about what was to come. This man came as the fulfillment of God’s promises to David and Abraham and Moses. What He was going to do to fulfill them was unexpected and heartbreaking. But it undeniably unleashed the power of Almighty God to save the lost and broken. At the beginning of this story, there were similar themes. The wait for God’s people was over. One sign that had been given was the coming of a messenger to declare the arrival of the Messiah. John the Baptist was that messenger. In this episode, Luke records how John’s father understood and declared the launch of God’s saving plan.
