"The King Who Came in Humility"

Call to Worship  (inspired by Psalm 118)

Hosanna!  Shout it with me! Hosanna! We shout with glad voices, even knowing it means “Save us!”

 We cry out, “Save us!”   to the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We plead for God to save us 

 from the pain of violence and the power of deceit. We ask God to save us as we seek to hide from all we fear. Hosanna!  We give thanks and extol God’s holy name, for the Lord is good, God’s steadfast love endures forever!

Opening Prayer

God of all good gifts, today we praise your name, grateful for your steadfast love, which endures forever.   When trials beset us, when tragedy overcomes, when fears push us to flee, may we still cry out  Hosanna! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Launch us into this Holy Week with eager hearts. Help us walk with Jesus, not only in the joys of Palm Sunday parade, but in each day with the mounting crises that lead on to the cross.  AMEN

Moment for Stewardship

On this Palm Sunday, we’ve had our opportunity to cheer and clap, wave our palms and shout “Hosanna!”  Now, we have an opportunity to give a portion of what’s been given to us, so others might also come to recognize Jesus as the Christ.  Let’s give with grateful hearts, eager to share the joy of following God’s Beloved.

Prayer

Grant us the help we need to be your people— the courage to join you in the procession; the selflessness to lay our cloaks before you; the freedom to lift our palms to your glory; and the knowledge that by your grace we are forgiven. Amen.

Zechariah 9:9 New International Version The Coming of Zion’s King 9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Introduction: Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is the most important week in the Christian calendar. During Holy Week, Christians around the world commemorate the final days of Jesus' earthly ministry, culminating in his death and resurrection. Palm Sunday is significant because it marks Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he was greeted by crowds of people waving palm branches and proclaiming him as their king. This event foreshadows the events of the coming week, when Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, tried, and ultimately crucified, but it also reminds us of Jesus' sovereignty and the hope that we have in him as our king and savior.

According to the accounts, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, while crowds of people waved palm branches and laid them on the ground before him, shouting "Hosanna!" (which means "Save us!") and proclaiming him as their king. This event was significant because it fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah (such as Zechariah 9:9), and it set the stage for the events of Holy Week, including Jesus' betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Although the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus as a king during his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, Jesus' kingship was not what they expected. Rather than coming as a powerful military ruler who would overthrow the Roman authorities and establish a physical kingdom on earth, Jesus came in humility and meekness, riding on a donkey and serving others (Matthew 20:25-28). Jesus' kingship was not about worldly power or prestige, but about sacrificial love and service. In fact, later in the week, Jesus would wash his disciples' feet as an example of this servant leadership (John 13:1-17), and ultimately, he would lay down his life for the sake of others (John 15:13). The paradox of Jesus' kingship is that he reigns not by force, but by love, and his kingdom is not of this world, but of the spirit (John 18:36).

Body:

I. The prophetic fulfillment of Jesus' entry (Zechariah 9:9)

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was not a coincidence, but a fulfillment of prophecy. The prophet Zechariah had foretold that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), and Jesus deliberately arranged his entry in this way to fulfill that prophecy. This was a clear sign to those who had eyes to see and ears to hear that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah. The fact that the crowds of people greeted him with palm branches and cries of "Hosanna!" further underscored the significance of the moment. It's important to note that Jesus' fulfillment of this prophecy was not just a symbolic gesture, but a real indication that he was the one who had been prophesied to come and bring salvation to God's people.

Imagine a young couple who have been planning their wedding for months. They have carefully chosen the date, the venue, and the guest list, and everything is in place for the big day. As they stand at the altar and exchange their vows, they are filled with a sense of joy and fulfillment, knowing that this is what they have been working towards all along.

In a similar way, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was not a random event, but a carefully planned and intentional fulfillment of prophecy. Just as the couple's wedding was the culmination of all their preparations, Jesus' triumphal entry was the culmination of centuries of prophetic promises and expectations. It was a moment of great joy and fulfillment for those who recognized its significance, and it marked the beginning of the most important week in human history. Just as the couple's wedding changed their lives forever, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem changed the course of history forever, and its impact is still felt today by millions of people around the world.

We can draw from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem being a fulfillment of prophecy is that God is a faithful God who keeps his promises. The prophecies in the Old Testament that foretold the coming of the Messiah were made centuries before Jesus' birth, yet they were all fulfilled in him. This shows us that God is not capricious or unreliable, but faithful and trustworthy. Furthermore, the fact that Jesus intentionally fulfilled these prophecies shows us that he is the promised Messiah who came to save us from our sins. This means that we can have confidence in Jesus as our Savior, and we can trust in his promises to forgive us, transform us, and give us eternal life. Finally, the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem reminds us that God's plans and purposes are often different from our own. The people of Jerusalem were expecting a conquering king who would overthrow their oppressors and establish a physical kingdom on earth. But Jesus came in humility and meekness, riding on a donkey and serving others. This teaches us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and that we should be open to the unexpected ways in which God may work in our lives.

Conclusion: I. The prophetic fulfillment of Jesus' entry

Palm Sunday reminds us of the humble and meek nature of Jesus' kingship. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was a sign of humility and a fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah (9:9), which spoke of the Messiah coming in this way. This stood in stark contrast to the expectations of the people, who were looking for a powerful military leader who would overthrow the Roman occupiers and establish an earthly kingdom. Jesus, however, came not to establish an earthly kingdom but a heavenly one. His mission was to reconcile humanity to God and to establish God's reign in the hearts of people. His kingship was not based on force or political power, but on love and service. He taught his followers to love their enemies, to pray for those who persecute them, and to serve others, even if it meant putting their own interests aside. As we reflect on Jesus' humble entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we are reminded that his kingship is not about power, status, or wealth. It is about humility, service, and love. As we seek to follow him, we are called to emulate his example by serving others, loving our enemies, and putting the needs of others ahead of our own. This is the kind of kingship that Jesus calls us to, and it is one that can transform the world.

The humble and meek nature of Jesus' kingship is that true leadership and authority is not about domination, but about service. Jesus demonstrated this by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, a symbol of humility and peace, rather than a powerful horse or chariot. As followers of Jesus, we are called to imitate his example of humility and service. This means putting others' needs ahead of our own, seeking to serve rather than be served, and showing love and compassion to those around us. We are called to be servants of all, just as Jesus was. Additionally, the humble and meek nature of Jesus' kingship reminds us that true power is found in vulnerability and self-sacrifice. Jesus, who had all power and authority, chose to lay down his life for the sake of others. This shows us that true strength and power is not found in dominating others, but in sacrificial love and service. Finally, the humble and meek nature of Jesus' kingship challenges our cultural notions of success and achievement. In a world that often values wealth, status, and power, Jesus teaches us that true success is found in living a life of service and sacrifice. We are called to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and to trust that all these things will be given to us as well (Matthew 6:33).

Benediction (Matthew 27:54)

“Truly this man Jesus was God’s Son.” As disciples of Jesus, truly you are God’s children. Go into this week with the knowledge that resurrection will come, even when it seems there is no tomorrow. Be blessed and be a blessing, with the courage to stand with those in need. In the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.