“Triumph or Tragedy?”

We all love a parade, don’t we? There’s energy, excitement, unity. You don’t even need to know what the parade’s about—just give us confetti, drums, and a sense that something good is happening, and we’ll cheer.

That’s what happens in Luke 19. Jesus is entering Jerusalem. The crowds are celebrating. They're cheering, throwing their cloaks on the ground, quoting Psalm 118: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”

But within days… the same crowd falls silent. Some even shout, “Crucify Him!”

What happened? Did they get tired? Were they confused? No—they misunderstood the King. They were cheering for a triumph of their own design… And when Jesus didn’t deliver the triumph they wanted, they saw Him as a tragedy.

1. The Crowd Cheered a King of Their Own Making

Let’s be clear: They didn’t cheer for Jesus because they loved the cross. They cheered because they thought He’d finally claim power. They saw the signs: Cloaks on the road, Shouts of “Hosanna” (save us), Riding into Jerusalem at the height of Passover. But they misread the signs. They expected a King who would liberate them from Rome, not liberate them from sin.

Kyle Idleman says it this way in Not a Fan: “The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires sacrifice.”

That’s Palm Sunday in a sentence. The crowd were fans. They cheered Jesus when He looked like He was about to give them the kingdom they wanted—but not the one He offered.

2. Judas Wasn’t Just a Villain—He Was a Misguided Fan

Let’s talk about Judas for a second. He wasn’t a monster lurking in the shadows. He was a fan who misunderstood the mission. There’s evidence that Judas may have believed his betrayal would force Jesus’ hand—that it would push Him to finally rise up and bring judgment on Rome.

He thought he was helping Jesus become the King he wanted. Instead, he set the stage for the crucifixion. How often do we do the same? How often do we pray, “Thy Kingdom come,” but live like we want our kingdom to remain?

How often do we try to push Jesus into our expectations instead of surrendering to His? Jesus would want me to have this

He wants me to be happy, blessed

3. The Danger of Being a Palm Sunday Christian

There’s a kind of Christianity that loves Palm Sunday, but wants nothing to do with Good Friday. We wave our hands in worship, but we won’t open them to serve. We’ll lay down our coats, but not our control. We want the crown… but we avoid the cross.

Jesus knew this. That’s why Luke tells us that as the parade was happening, Jesus began to weep over the city: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes…”(Luke 19:42)

That’s the tragedy. They were so close—so excited—yet so blind.

4. Triumph in the Tragedy

But here’s the grace: Jesus keeps riding into the city anyway. Praise God!

He doesn’t turn back when the crowd misreads Him. He doesn’t cancel the parade when their praise is shallow. He goes all the way to the cross—even for fans.

Because Jesus is not the King we expect. He’s the King we need.

The King who conquers not by killing His enemies—but by dying for them. The King who offers peace—not through political revolution, but through personal surrender.

That’s the triumph hidden inside the tragedy.

5. The Invitation: Are You a Fan or a Follower?

So here’s the invitation: Not to cheer louder. Not to wave more palms. But to follow.

To recognize that this parade is not just about praise—it’s about purpose. A purpose that leads to a cross… and only then, to a crown.

You don’t follow Jesus by joining the celebration. You follow Him by carrying the cross.

Just ask Simon of Cyrene.

He wasn’t part of the parade.

He wasn’t waving a palm branch on Sunday.

He wasn’t one of the twelve.

He wasn’t even looking for Jesus that day.

Luke tells us in 23:26: “As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”

Simon was just passing through. But then—he was pulled into the story. Pressed into service. Forced to carry a burden he didn’t choose.

And yet, in that moment, Simon did what no one else would—he literally carried the cross, walking behind the beaten and bleeding Christ.

He lived out the very words Jesus had once spoken: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) 

From Interruption to Invitation

Simon’s moment looked like an interruption—but it became an invitation.

He wasn’t cheering. He was carrying.

He wasn’t a volunteer. He was chosen.

And yet, that moment may have changed everything—for him and for his family.

Mark’s Gospel tells us Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus—names that show up again in the early church (Romans 16:13), suggesting Simon’s cross-carrying moment turned into a legacy of faith.

He stepped in reluctantly—but walked out redeemed.

Revised Reflection / Altar Moment

Simon of Cyrene didn’t plan to carry a cross that day.

But when the weight of Jesus’ suffering touched his shoulder, everything changed.

And maybe that’s where real discipleship begins.

Not in the parade. Not in the praise. But in the pressure.

In the weight of love.

In the call to serve.

Because to truly follow Jesus isn’t to cheer Him on—it’s to carry His cross. To step in. To bear the weight. To walk behind Him when the crowd walks away.

Today, that invitation still stands. That’s the difference between fan and follower. Between tragedy and triumph.

Closing Reflection (for prayer or altar response)

Maybe you’ve been a fan—more excited about Jesus blessing your plans than disrupting them. Maybe you’ve cheered on the parade, but turned away from the cross.

Today, you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to surrender.

The King has come. He’s riding into your life. But He won’t force the cross on you.

Will you follow Him when the cheers fade? Will you keep walking when the parade ends?

Because that’s where the real triumph begins.

Benediction or Closing Prayer

“King Jesus, Forgive us for the times we’ve cheered for a version of You that serves our desires. We confess we’ve waved palm branches and whispered our own agendas. But today, we lay it all down. Teach us to follow You—not just when it’s popular, but when it’s costly. Help us to see the cross as the path to true life. And may we not just read the signs of the King—but become signs of the Kingdom. Amen.”