The Parade vs. the Road - Monday, 03/30/2026

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:1–11

Most of us in Monroe know what it's like to get swept up in excitement. Maybe it's a big high school football game, a new job, or even a fresh start in the new year. There's energy in the air and it feels like something good is on the way. That's Palm Sunday. The crowd is shouting, waving branches, and calling out for Jesus to save them. Nobody's standing on the sidelines — everybody's in the parade.

But here's the thing about parades: they have a destination. The people cheering for Jesus that day had their own ideas about where he was headed. They wanted a king who would push out the Romans, fix their problems, and restore their national pride. They wanted Jesus to go their direction. When it became clear he had a different destination in mind — one that went straight toward suffering and a cross — the enthusiasm faded fast. By the end of the week, the same voices shouting "Hosanna" would be shouting something very different.

This is a tension most of us live with quietly. We love the idea of faith when it feels uplifting. We're drawn to God when life is good and we sense things moving in our direction. The challenge comes when following God asks us to go somewhere uncomfortable — to forgive someone who doesn't deserve it, to let go of control, to put someone else's needs before our own. That's when we find out if we're really in the parade, or just enjoying the party.

The good news is that Jesus knew exactly where he was going. He wasn't surprised by the cross, and he wasn't dragged there. He chose it — for us. That kind of love doesn't demand that we have it all figured out. It just asks us to keep walking with him, one honest step at a time, even when the road isn't what we expected.

Reflection Question:

Is there an area of your life right now where you've been following Jesus — but only as long as it goes the direction you wanted? What would it look like to keep following even if it doesn't?

Action Step:

This week, write down one area where you feel the pull to go your own direction instead of God's. Keep it somewhere visible — your mirror, your phone screen, your dashboard — as a reminder to stay in step with God's path rather than your own.

Prayer:

God, give me the courage to follow you not just when the road feels good, but all the way — even when it leads somewhere I wouldn't choose on my own. Amen.