What Holy Week Can Teach Us about Disappointment

Seasons of disappointment challenge us to understand God’s idea of “good,” if we’ll but listen. For it so easy to praise God when times are good… but far more difficult when times are bad.

Think about the first Palm Sunday. The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ grand entrance into Jerusalem in chapter 21. It says, that as Jesus entered the city riding on a donkey…

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” -ESV.

Things were looking pretty good for God’s people – Jesus was a Messiah who could feed thousands at the snap of a finger; He could shame the Romans by wrestling Matthew from their grasp (their biggest tax collector). Jesus was able to stymie all the powerbrokers in Jerusalem. Yes, times were good and God’s people went out of their way to give Jesus a warm welcome — laying down their cloaks, cutting branches, shouting songs of praise, declaring His righteousness… and it was good and right that they do!

But they didn’t really understand why. The people rushing to pave the streets with cloaks and palm branches thought that Jesus was finally going to bring about the political changes they had longed for. Things were looking up: Jesus was about to crush the Roman oppressors!

Or so they thought.

Silhouette of 3 crosses under the blue sky

Their error was looking at “good times” from a temporal point of view, rather than eternal. And by the following Friday, you can’t find anyone who is excited to praise Jesus. They weren’t about to laud a convicted criminal. As Jesus stumbles up the long, painful road to Calvary, the crowds lining the street mock and jeer at him. The only person who provides a helping hand is Simon of Cyrene… and that’s only because he is forced to.

Even the disciples turned on him. They started the week thinking they had in Jesus, a rising star. Things were just going to keep getting better and better! But by the end of that dramatic week, they were running scared and hiding in the shadows.

Oh friend, you and I are no different. We have our big dreams of what loyalty to Jesus will do for us. We think that because we’ve signed up to follow Jesus, that God will reward us. Our 401K will keep growing, our boss will honor our dedication, our friends will recognize our hard efforts, and our church pews will be filled to overflowing.

God does reward us… just not always in the here and now in the way we expect.

Instead, when the stock market crashes, and our jobs are labeled non-essential… when each “refresh” of the pandemic statistics only show things getting worse… when God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we think He should…

Well, the disappointment could cause us to turn away from God. We could think He’s forgotten us; that He really doesn’t have the power to save us.

Do not make that mistake. God’s idea of “good times” are seasons when patience is honed, courage is revealed, compassion is shown, and trust is refined. So, remind yourself of the eternal victory Jesus accomplished at the darkest moment on Calvary’s hill. Remember how Jesus endured the hours of shame and pain-filled isolation on the cross for the eternal joy set before him… the joy that is ours, too, if we choose it.

Oh Friend, celebrate Jesus today. And not just today. Throughout this dark and difficult season of life, I’m making every moment a reflection of my gratitude toward my Lord and Savior. And I believe you will do the same!

Joni and Friends Blog
https://www.joniandfriends.org/what-holy-week-can-teach-us-about-disappointment

Palm Sunday

The Triumphal Entry

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Matthew 21:1-11 (NKJV)

We All Fall, Need To Repent, Get Up And Continue To Follow Jesus

I can believe and say that I’m an American (for example). But unless I have the American passport or ID, I’m not an American… it confirms my belief and confession.

There is also a proof of our identity as Christians.

Faith or belief and reliance on Jesus Christ, especially for salvation, is essential. The word of God says that whoever confesses the Lord Jesus with his mouth and believes in his heart that God raised him will be saved.

But there needs to be evidence that my words are not empty and that my belief is real. Jesus said even demons believe and shudder. The apostle James challenged to say that our faith must prove itself with our works.

Let’s be clear, we’re not saved by works, we’re saved by grace – but our belief in Christ will prove itself to be genuine or not.

It’s not possible for a Christian to want to practise a sinful lifestyle.

Sure we all fall, need to repent, get up and continue to follow Jesus… but practicing sin (like practicing soccer) and “improving” at it is different.

person kicks a soccer ball in field

There are so many temptations around us that easily draw us in and “help us get better” at things we know are wrong. Especially on the internet and social media.

Prove your belief and confession by turning your back on these temptations.

There’s nothing that pleases a father more than having a clear relationship with his children. Don’t stay away. Come back – even if you’ve messed up.


Romans 10:9

… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.


James 2:17

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.


Acts 26:20

…that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.


  • Mark Saunders