Have You Seen Jesus? Do You Know Him? Palm Sunday 2025

A Palm Sunday Narrative Introduction from a Child’s Perspective

Characters:

Younger Brother – wide-eyed, curious, full of childlike faith

Older Brother – cautious, critical, loves Jesus but struggles with unmet expectations

Doubting Friend – skeptical, sarcastic, but intrigued

[Scene: All three characters are together, weaving through a crowd in Jerusalem.]

YOUNGER BROTHER: (Have him looking side to side, climbing something) Have you seen Him? (Move to another side of the stage) Have you seen Jesus from over there? It’s so hard to see in this huge crowd.

"My dad said there would be over two million people in Jerusalem for Passover this year!"

DOUBTING FRIEND: "Do you even know what two million means?"

YOUNGER BROTHER: "No! Not really... but I’m pretty sure it’s more than the number of figs I’ve ever eaten!"

OLDER BROTHER: "It feels like two million people out here. But it’s not every day a so-called king parades into Jerusalem. I still think this whole thing is getting out of hand."

[The Donkey Moment]

YOUNGER BROTHER: "I heard He’s riding on a donkey! And not just any donkey—our donkey. Two men came to our house this morning and took our new colt. When my father caught them and asked what they were doing, two men said, ‘The Master is in need of it.’ So, he just let them have it. I’ve helped raise that colt since it was born!" (Pause, in awe) "Jesus is riding on my colt. Isn’t it amazing when something you love and care for gets to be used by Jesus in His Kingdom for his purposes and glory?!"

DOUBTING FRIEND: (Scoffing) "I think you’re over-exaggerating the importance of your silly donkey."

OLDER BROTHER: (Shrugging) "Well, all I know is that it’s not a war horse. So I don’t know why everyone’s getting so excited. It’s not like anything is going to change around here—with our 'Messiah' riding around on a symbol of peace. I wish He was riding in like a Roman general on a stallion. Maybe then He’d do something about them."

[Waiting in the Crowd]

YOUNGER BROTHER: "What’s taking so long? It feels like it’s been forever!"

OLDER BROTHER: "Jesus has been staying in Bethany—it’s about two miles southeast of here, just over the Mount of Olives."

DOUBTING FRIEND: "Two miles? That’s barely a walk! That should only take about an hour!"

OLDER BROTHER: "Yeah, but with all these crowds? That road must be packed all the way from Bethany. It’s probably taking Him longer than usual just to make His way through."

YOUNGER BROTHER: (Wide-eyed again) "That’s a lot of people... and they’re all here to see Him. Isn’t that amazing?"

DOUBTING FRIEND: (Staring off into the distance, skeptical but thoughtful) "If He ever shows up..."

[Jesus Appears – The Crowd Erupts]

YOUNGER BROTHER: "Look! There He comes!" (Waves palm branch excitedly) "Quick, start waving the branches we brought with us!"

OLDER BROTHER: (Trying to stay reserved, but cracking a smile) "This is exciting..."

DOUBTING FRIEND: (Watching quietly) "...He doesn’t look like a king. But there’s something about Him."

YOUNGER BROTHER: "I don’t think there’s anything more exciting than following Jesus!"

[Reflection – Direct Address to Congregation]

(stepping aside from the characters): Do you remember when you felt like that? When there was nothing more exciting than following Jesus?

Has the spark gone out? Has service replaced savoring? Have you gotten so busy working for Jesus that you’ve stopped simply walking with Him?

Sometimes you don’t need a full break—you just need to sit at His feet again.

Let’s remember Jesus’ words to the church in Revelation 2:4–5:

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first…"

[The Shouts of the Crowd]

OLDER BROTHER: (Shouting with growing confidence) "What is everyone shouting?"

YOUNGER BROTHER and CROWD: "HOSANNA!"

PASTOR (explaining briefly): Hosanna is both a praise and a prayer. It means: “Save us, we pray!” It’s part of the Hallel—the Psalms of praise from Psalm 113–118. It’s what they shouted when the King came in peace. It’s what we shout when we know He’s the only one who can save.

[Closing Reflection – The Choice]

DOUBTING FRIEND (quietly): "Do you think He really is the Messiah?"

YOUNGER BROTHER: "I know He is. Maybe not like we expected. But I think He came to save us in ways we haven’t even imagined yet."

Let’s stand and read this exciting account from

Matthew 21:1–11 ESV

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Matthew 26:69–75 ESV

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

1. Approach with Anticipation

Matthew 21:1-5

You could begin by examining Jesus' approach to Jerusalem, highlighting His intentional actions and fulfillment of prophecy. This illustrates the first aspect of kingdom living: Submission to God's plan over personal agendas. Reflect on Jesus' choice to ride a donkey, symbolizing peace rather than war—a crucial lesson in choosing humility over dominance in our lives.

2. Adoration and Allegiance

Matthew 21:6-9

Emphasize the need for discernment between fleeting enthusiasm and enduring faith. The temptation to conform to popular opinion can be great, but true allegiance to Jesus means embracing His mission of selflessness and service.

3. Acknowledge His Authority

Matthew 21:10-11

The city’s unrest and questioning of "Who is this?" present an opportunity to discuss identity and purpose within God's kingdom. You might explore how recognizing Jesus as Lord demands commitment beyond cultural and societal norms, inviting the congregation to continuously evaluate their own views of Jesus in light of His true mission and identity.

“And that this city could contain so many people in it...two million seven hundred thousand and two hundred persons that were pure and holy [not counting] any foreigners either, who come hither to worship.” ~AD66–70

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Bethany was located about two miles southeast of Jerusalem. A person could walk from the village to Jerusalem in a little less than an hour. Bethany would be Jesus’s home base during the week (Mark 11:1, 11, 12). Each evening he and his disciples would leave the city and return there

2 Kings 9:12–13 ESV

12 And they said, “That is not true; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’ ” 13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”

Do You know Jesus? Not just know about him, or even claim to worship Him, but do you know Him? Why do you say so?

Have you ever, like Peter, had times in your life when because of your life’s circumstances you declared, “I don’t know the man”?

Have You lost your first love of Jesus? Are you still excited about following Him? How has your walk with Jesus changed since you first began to follow Him?