Palm Sunday

I. Introduction

Today is Palm Sunday—the beginning of Holy Week, the final days leading up to the cross and resurrection. And on this day, over 2,000 years ago, Jesus entered Jerusalem not in secret, but in full view of the people.

It’s one of the few events recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12). That tells us something: this moment matters.

Let me set the scene.

Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, the city is buzzing preparing for Passover. And when Jesus rode in on that donkey, the crowd erupted in celebration.

When Jesus comes riding in on a donkey, the crowd erupts with celebration. They laid their cloaks on the road, waved palm branches, and shouted:

Matthew 21:9 NKJV

Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

“Hosanna!” — a Hebrew phrase meaning “Save us now!”

They wave palm branches, a national symbol of victory and freedom.

They lay their cloaks on the road, a sign of submission to royalty.

They call Him “Son of David”, a direct acknowledgment of His claim to the throne.

Tension

Here’s the question I want us to wrestle with today:

How could the same crowd that cried “Hosanna!” on Sunday, cry “Crucify Him!” by Friday?

What went wrong?

They welcomed a King, but they misunderstood His kingdom.

Let’s explore this moment together—not just to remember the past, but to examine our own hearts:

What kind of King are we expecting—and what kind of followers are we becoming?

Point 1: THE CROWD WELCOMED A KING—BUT MISUNDERSTOOD HIS MISSION

Matthew 21:8–9 NKJV

And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

They were quoting Messianic prophecy. They were excited. But they had political expectations.

They were right to call Him King. They were right to expect salvation. But they were wrong about what kind of King He came to be.

They wanted a political hero to overthrow Rome.

Jesus came to overthrow sin, shame, and death.

Luke 19:41–42 NIV

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

Jesus wept because they wanted the crown without the cross and they didn’t recognize what would bring them peace.

They were shouting “Save us now!”—but when He didn’t save the way they expected, they turned on Him.

POINT 2: JESUS FULFILLED PROPHECY—NOT POPULAR OPINION

Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Jesus wasn’t improvising. He was fulfilling prophecy down to the detail:

But the real mission was deeper.

Jesus fulfilled every detail—intentionally:

He entered on a donkey (symbol of peace, not war)

He came during Passover week—as the Lamb of God.

He went straight to the temple to confront religious hypocrisy.

Still, they missed Him. Why?

Because their expectation got in the way of revelation.

The disciples had the same problem....

John 12:16 NKJV

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

“At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize…”

Even His closest friends didn’t fully get it—until after the resurrection.

Illustration: Sometimes we unwrap a gift and think, “This isn’t what I wanted.” Later, we realize—it was exactly what we needed.

Jesus didn’t come to meet expectations—He came to fulfill the Father’s plan.

POINT 3: THE CROWD WAS LOUD—BUT THEIR FAITH WAS SHALLOW

Matthew 27:22–23 NKJV

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

“Pilate asked, ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus?’ They all answered, ‘Crucify Him!’”

The same voices shouting “Hosanna” now shout “Crucify.” Why?

Because:

Praise without understanding fades.

Emotion without surrender collapses under pressure.

Faith rooted in convenience won’t last in crisis.

Let’s bring this home:

Are we following Jesus for who He is—or for what we want Him to do for us?

POINT 4: THREE TYPES OF RESPONSES TO THE KING

Let’s break this down with a simple 3-part framework you can take with you:

1. WAVING FAITH

Emotional, enthusiastic, but shallow

Present on Sunday, absent by Friday

Celebrates Jesus—until He doesn’t meet expectations

2. WATCHING FAITH

Curious, distant, respectful

Wants the benefits of Jesus—but not the surrender

Follows from afar

3. WALKING FAITH

Rooted, surrendered, willing to follow to the cross

Like Mary, John, the faithful women—present at the crucifixion

Obedient even when it costs something

Waving faith praises. Walking faith obeys.

INVITATION: WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO YOU HAVE?

Are you waving a palm branch—but not carrying your cross?

Are you watching from a distance—but avoiding surrender?

Or are you walking with Jesus—through the cheers and the pain, through the parade and the cross?

Today is the day to say:

“Jesus, I receive You—not just as the King I want, but the King I need.”

Be Blessed!

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