Palm Sunday: An Unexpected Entrance We’ll Never Forget!

Sometimes, things don’t turn out the way we expect

Gail - prospects - now look!

Sometimes, that’s what happens in life.

We have grand plans.

Think this is what’s going to happen.

All worked out.

But then doesn’t turn out the way we think.

Jesus’ grand entrance into Jerusalem doesn’t turn out the way anyone expected

Came into Jerusalem with all the crowds, people waving palm branches, and shouting hosanna!

We know how this is supposed to turn out.

Three groups in this story - the crowd, the religious leaders, the disciples - all thought they knew how Jesus’ entrance into the city should turn out.

But it didn’t turn out quite how they expected.

They sort of had the right idea, but they missed the truth.

The Crowd: What’s in it for me?

Volunteer in football shirt

If someone was to parade through Maidenhead Town Centre today and people started waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna, we’d think it weird!

But in first century Jerusalem, it wasn’t.

Happened before.

In fact, traditional greeting.

When national hero returned home, or conquering king came into the city, people would often come to entrance and wave palm branches.

Palm branch = national sign of victory.

Would shout, Hosanna! which means Save us now.

Nothing strange in a crowd shouting and chanting Save us, Save us!

So this crowd had a particular perspective: What’s in it for me?

Not looking for Saviour from their sins.

Looking for a local all-conquering hero who would get the Romans off their backs.

This Jesus, who had raised Lazarus from the dead might just be the one to do it.

When they heard he was outside the city, with an entourage all ready to go, they got excited.

This is it!

So, they grab palm branches and start singing Hosanna! Save us now!

The Bible tells us some of the crowd were asking, Who is he?

They didn’t know him at all!

But they thought he was their meal ticket out of foreign occupation.

He raises people from the dead - he can defeat the Romans on his own!

They were just looking for Jesus to do what they wanted, so they shouted,

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

But when they realised he wasn’t going to do what they wanted, they soon changed tune!

Soon they were shouting, Take him away! Crucify him!

Their self-centredness led them to miss out on the hope Jesus was bringing them.

I can be self-centred sometimes.

How about you?

When we’re self-centred we can be deceived.

We can’t see what we really need, because we’re too focused on what we want.

And we can miss the hope we need.

The Religious Leaders: We’re in control, not Jesus

Volunteer in uniform

They knew the prophecy.

Knew the Scriptures.

Should have known this grand entrance was coming.

Daniel had prophesied it.

Zachariah had told them the Messiah would come into Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey.

How did they miss this?

Because their perspective was: we’re in control. Not Jesus.

The religious leaders had it good.

Romans let them do pretty much what they wanted.

They had control over Jews, and Romans let them get on with it.

But they were scared of Jesus.

Scared he was going to mess it all up.

They thought he was going to overthrow the Romans and maybe even themselves and attempt a political coup.

They didn’t want that.

They wanted to be in control.

We’re not about to let our power go.

They knew hope was coming.

They knew hope would be found in the Messiah when he came.

But they missed him and the hope he brought because they had unteachable hearts.

I can be unteachable sometimes.

I want to be in control of my own destiny.

What about you?

When we insist on being in control, when we fail to surrender to God and his sovereignty, our hard hearts will miss the hope Jesus brings.

The Disciples: Not like this!

Volunteer: Anyone

These guys had walked / been with Jesus.

Made a commitment to follow his teachings, work.

But Jesus has been holding them back.

When he healed the lepers, he told them not to tell anyone.

When he healed Jairus’s daughter, he told them not to talk about it. To keep quiet.

When he was transfigured on the mountain, he told Peter, James, and John not to talk about what they had seen.

Now they come walking into Jerusalem with Jesus, surrounded by an excited crowd waving palm branches, and shouting Hosanna!

They were excited.

Then they hear the religious leaders tell Jesus to stop the crowd celebrating.

What do you think they expected Jesus to say?

They expected him to make the crowd stop.

But this time, Jesus says no!

Let them sing my praises.

Because if they don’t, the rocks and stones will instead!

They must have thought in that moment - well, then this is it!

Jesus is finally going to be crowned King!

He’s kept us quiet to this point.

But now he’s making a grand entrance into the city, and he wants a fuss.

He wants the celebration, the crowd, the palm branches, the shouting.

But they were missing the big picture.

Jesus had tried to tell them:

Matthew 16:21–22 NCV

From that time on Jesus began telling his followers that he must go to Jerusalem, where the Jewish elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law would make him suffer many things. He told them he must be killed and then be raised from the dead on the third day. Peter took Jesus aside and told him not to talk like that. He said, “God save you from those things, Lord! Those things will never happen to you!”

The disciples expected a jewelled crown.

But the crown Jesus was going to wear had no jewels, but thorns.

This is what we wanted Jesus.

For you to come into your Kingdom.

But not like this!

I want to be a fruitful Christian.

I want to live the holy life.

But I don’t always want to go through what’s necessary in order to grow into those character traits.

What about you?

When we shun the difficulties in our lives, our trials and sorrows, and head for the easy life, and plead with God, not like this, not like this, then we miss the hope that comes from walking with Jesus through them together.

Volunteers sit down

Will you let Jesus make a grand entrance into your life and change your perspective?

Your perspective is your reality.

It’s the way you view the world.

Lots of things contribute to the way you interpret everything that happens to you.

Background, childhood, education, travels, relationships.

Our perspectives should develop as our relationship with Jesus deepens.

As Jesus gives us more and more resurrection hope, how we view life and the world around us should be transformed.

John 12:16 NCV

The followers of Jesus did not understand this at first. But after Jesus was raised to glory, they remembered that this had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

Now we get it!

Once Jesus had completed his mission on earth, the disciples finally understood.

Their perspectives changed as their relationship with Jesus deepened.

Sometimes, my perspective is What’s in it for me?

Sometimes, my perspective is, I am in control, not you, Jesus.

Sometimes, my perspective is, Come on Lord, not like this.

But when my relationship with Jesus deepens, my perspective grows and develops.

As I am filled with resurrection hope, the way I view the world is framed with faith.

So will you allow Jesus to enter your life today?

Maybe the first time, maybe once again?

He might not do what you expect, but he will give you all the hope you need.

You may be facing a challenge right now, but Jesus will bring you the hope you need.

He’ll make a grand entrance into your life.

All you have to do is invite him.

Prayer and SB416 - Enter, enter, right into my heart, Lord

Enter, enter right into my heart, Lord, Enter now, enter now; Enter, enter right into my heart, Lord, Enter now, enter now. Anon Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 135015 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 416