"Why are you so joyful every day?"
"Because I believe in Jesus!"
This conversation happened between two Christian sisters on their way to church on the recent Palm Sunday morning. One of them shared the transformation they experienced after coming to faith: "I used to be sad very often, but now my heart is filled with peace, making me smile every day. My colleagues said I seemed like a different person. They asked why, and I told them: 'it was Jesus who changed me'!"
Such a testimony of transformation reflects the theme of the Palm Sunday message. Over two thousand years ago, the city cheered and celebrated as Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Crowds shouted "Hosanna" and laid their cloaks and palm branches on the road before him. Yet behind that joyful scene, how many truly understood whom they were welcoming? Many came to believe in Jesus because of the changes they experienced: sorrow turned into joy, weakness into strength, and illness into healing. These changes are indeed amazing. However, if Christians' faith remains at this level, it may resemble that of the crowd in Jerusalem, who only saw Jesus as a miracle worker or a source of help.
The pastor's sermon on Sunday deeply impressed me. He explained that when the disciples cried out "Hosanna," they were envisioning a Messiah who would reign as an earthly king, one who would overthrow Roman rule. Yet Jesus chose to enter the city riding on a young donkey that had never been ridden, which was the humblest entrance. I noticed that one's expectations and assumptions shape their understanding of Jesus.
While the city rejoiced, Jesus knew that many would soon cry, "Crucify Him." Still, He chose to "ride on" and walk resolutely toward Calvary. His unwavering commitment to die out of love is the true source of joy, not a fleeting happiness tied to favorable circumstances, but a deep peace rooted in being held by eternal love.
That sister was right; believing in Jesus truly brings joy. But through the pastor's message, I understand that this joy is far more than an uplifted mood. It comes from knowing the Savior who went to the cross for us, from experiencing his presence through every mountain and valley, and from the peace of a life anchored in eternity.
Concluding the service, the sacred hymn "You Are My Eternal Savior" filled the sanctuary. At that moment, I was deeply moved. Palm Sunday is not merely a remembrance of historical events but also a prompt for personal reflection: What kind of Lord do I truly know?
On the way home, the sunlight seemed especially radiant. I thought to myself, the next time someone asks why I'm joyful, I won't just say, "Because I believe in Jesus." I'll tell them, "Because I know a Lord who died for me and rose again!" That is the source of my joy.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
