“When you stay connected to the vine, your life will flourish in every season.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 29, 2026
The next day, the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:12-13
As I clipped the dead branches from the fairly new plant, I was irritated with myself for forgetting to water it regularly. Now, many of the once vibrant green branches were brown and dead. It was beautiful in my newly painted and decorated piano room. Sadly, I had treated it like a decoration instead of a living plant. As I cut away the dead branches and slowly added water to the crusty soil, I paused, realizing I was cutting palm branches.
These were the same branches that had been cut to honor Jesus as He entered Jerusalem on a donkey. It happened just as Zechariah had prophesied. The crowd laid palm branches on the ground and waved them in honor of a King. Palms had historically symbolized victory, triumph, and royalty.
Jesus rode in as a triumphant King just days before He went to the cross. One crowd shouted “Hosanna,” but only five days later, another crowd shouted, “Crucify Him.”
How could it be? How did “Hosanna” turn into “Crucify” so quickly?
Without careful attention, the same can happen to us. Our hearts can quickly grow dry and crusty, filled with doubt and unbelief. One day, we are thriving, standing tall, full of faith, and just a few days later, we can droop in unbelief.
That is why Jesus had that important conversation with His disciples on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what would happen if they didn’t stay connected to Him, the Vine. I have always pictured Jesus running His hand across the green leaves and cupping a cluster of grapes in His hand as He spoke the words:
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
We must watch over our hearts and make sure we are abiding in Him, living in the light of His word and being watered by His Spirit. We want to live among the “Palm Sunday Crowd,” honoring Him for who He truly is. He is our triumphant King who gave His life for us so we may have an abundant life. This life should be alive and vibrant, filled with all the fruit of the Spirit. Reaching toward heaven, we give glory to God.
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him’” (Psalm 92:12-15).
Prayer
Lord, prepare our hearts to experience this Holy Week with hearts alive to You. May we abide in You and flourish for You. Cut away the dead flesh from our hearts and fill us with your life-giving Spirit.
Application
Allow God to cut away anything that is taking you away from Him. Perhaps today is a great day to reconnect with King Jesus!
Related Reading
John 15, Psalm 1:1-6, Ezekiel 47:12, Zechariah 9:9
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Brooke Ligertwood: Hosanna
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