From Hosanna to Crucify Him
Palm Sunday changes quickly.
We begin with Jesus entering Jerusalem in triumph. Crowds surround Him. Some are curious. They have heard about this teacher who performs miracles and speaks with authority, and they want to see Him for themselves.
Others are excited. Something is stirring. They spread their cloaks on the road, cut branches from the trees, and cry:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
Some believe He may finally be the Messiah they have been waiting for, perhaps the one who will free Israel from Roman oppression and restore its political power.
There is hope in their faces.
Excitement.
Expectation.
And then, only days later, everything changes.
The voices that greeted Him as king give way to another cry:
“Let him be crucified!”
That dramatic change invites us to enter Holy Week looking carefully at the people around Jesus, but also at ourselves.
Because it is easy to follow Jesus when He appears to be becoming the king we expected.
The harder question is whether we will follow Him when He does not meet our expectations at all.
The True Son of the Father
In the Passion, Pilate gives the crowd a choice.
Jesus or Barabbas.
Barabbas is a notorious prisoner, and his name itself carries a striking meaning: son of the father.
The crowd asks for Barabbas to be released.
And in his place, Jesus, the true Son of the Father, is condemned.
There is something powerful in that exchange.
The innocent One takes the place of the guilty one.
Jesus, who descended from heaven, who did not cling to His divine privilege but emptied Himself, becomes obedient even to death on a Cross.
The One who possesses all power makes Himself small enough to be held in His mother’s arms.
He allows Himself to be misunderstood by His friends.
Abandoned by His disciples.
Betrayed by Judas.
Denied by Peter.
Unjustly condemned.
Mocked.
Beaten.
And crucified.
Even Judas recognizes the terrible truth of what has happened:
“I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.”
The innocent One takes the place of the guilty.
And Barabbas is not the only one whose place He takes.
We Are Barabbas
Where do we find ourselves in this story?
It is tempting to imagine ourselves among the faithful few standing courageously beside Jesus.
But Palm Sunday asks us to look more honestly.
In a real sense, we are Barabbas.
We know our own sins.
The times we have abandoned the Lord.
The ways we have failed to love.
The times we have chosen ourselves over Him.
The things we have done and the things we have failed to do.
And still, Jesus takes our place.
The true Son of the Father goes to the Cross so that we can become sons and daughters of the Father.
That is the gift at the heart of Holy Week.
Not simply that Jesus suffered.
He suffered for us.
Isaiah gives us the image of the suffering servant who does not turn back.
St. Paul tells us that Christ emptied Himself and became “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
And in the Passion, we watch that obedience unfold.
Jesus does not save Himself from the Cross.
He gives Himself through it.
For Moms
Holy Week can easily become another busy week on the family calendar.
There are school schedules, practices, meals, Easter clothes, travel plans, baskets, and celebrations to prepare.
But this is the holiest week of the year.
Our children need to see that Holy Week is different.
Not because we make it elaborate or perfect, but because we make room for Jesus.
They need to know that our faith is not only about waving palms when following Christ feels joyful.
Faith also means staying with Him when it costs us something.
It means choosing Him when the crowd moves in another direction.
It means returning when we have failed Him.
And it means learning to take up our own crosses instead of expecting Jesus to remove every difficult thing from our lives.
Jesus told His disciples:
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
This week gives us the opportunity to show our children what that looks like.
Questions to Sit With
- Is it easier for me to follow Jesus when He is answering my prayers the way I hoped than when His way looks different from mine?
- Where do I recognize myself in the Passion: in the crowd, Peter, Judas, the disciples who fled, or even Barabbas?
- What would it mean for me to stay close to Jesus through this Holy Week instead of rushing ahead to Easter?
Family Practice
Choose at least one part of the Triduum to enter into intentionally as a family: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or the Easter Vigil.
Before you go, tell your children simply why:
“This week we stay close to Jesus and remember what He did for us before we celebrate His Resurrection.”
Let Holy Week feel different.