Finding Freedom in His Peace, Power, and Presence: A Palm Sunday Reflection

Pastor Saz delivered a profoundly moving Palm Sunday sermon at Courageous Church that challenges us to examine how we welcome Jesus into our lives. Through a masterful unpacking of Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem and subsequent temple cleansing, she revealed a transformative pattern of how God works in our lives: He comes in peace, operates in power, and brings His presence.

Many of us can relate to that moment of panic when someone unexpectedly knocks on our door—we scramble to hide the mess or present only our polished selves. Pastor Saz used this relatable experience to illustrate how we often respond to Jesus's knock on the door of our hearts. Some welcome Him with worship, others cry out for help, some question where He's been, and still others try to hide the mess inside.

"Jesus does not need you to be perfect," Pastor Saz reminded us, "because when He knocks on the door of your life, He's coming to bring peace."

The sermon brilliantly highlighted the symbolism of Jesus arriving on a donkey—not as a conquering king on a warhorse, but as the Prince of Peace. He came not to judge Jerusalem but to save it, approaching with gentleness before demonstrating His power. This pattern reveals something beautiful about God's character: He doesn't come to overpower us but to set us free.

One of the most compelling insights was the "porch" analogy. In Southern culture, we often welcome people onto our porches for pleasant conversation while keeping the inside of our homes—and hearts—hidden from view. Similarly, we might welcome Jesus to the "porch" of our Sunday worship while keeping Him from the messy realities of our daily lives. Yet Jesus wants more than polite conversation; He desires to enter every room of our hearts.

Pastor Saz explained how the temple cleansing represents Jesus removing barriers between us and God. "We've all got tables of things between where we are right now and the presence of God," she noted. Whether it's addiction, control issues, unforgiveness, or shame, Jesus wants to flip those tables and clear a path to intimacy with God.

The full-circle nature of Jesus's work in our lives is perhaps the most beautiful revelation: He arrives in peace, operates in power, and brings His presence. Then, within His presence, He empowers us to live differently, which ultimately brings His peace into our everyday lives.

As we enter Holy Week, Pastor Saz's message invites us to ask ourselves: What's on the table of our lives that gets in the way of closeness with God? What parts of our inner lives are we keeping Jesus from accessing? The invitation is clear—to open every door, allow Him to clear every obstacle, and experience the freedom that comes from His peace, power, and presence.

This sermon serves as a powerful reminder that the Easter story isn't just about historical events but about the transformative work Jesus wants to do in our lives today. He still arrives gently, works powerfully, and brings His presence—if only we'll open the door.