Here Comes the King!

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.”

Occasion: Palm Sunday

Exegetical Idea: Jesus enters Jerusalem as the prophesied King, confronting the crowd’s expectations and revealing the nature of His kingdom.

Homiletical Idea: When Jesus enters your life as King, everything changes—if you receive Him for who He truly is.

Introduction

There’s a special kind of buzz in the air when a big event is coming to town. You know the feeling. When a celebrity is visiting, when a championship parade rolls through the streets, or when a well-known figure pulls up to to a place—folks line up early, phones come out, and everybody wants to catch a glimpse. I remember when Rev. Jesse Jackson came to speak in Peoria. The building was packed before the doors even opened. People had their Sunday best on, not because it was church as usual, but because somebody important was coming. And when he walked in, there was a reverent hush—and then, an eruption of honor. That’s a taste of what Jerusalem felt like on that first Palm Sunday. The people lined the streets. They waved palm branches. They laid down their cloaks. They shouted “Hosanna!” because they believed somebody important was coming. But here’s the twist: they were cheering… and didn’t even know who they were cheering for. They were honoring the King—but misunderstood His kingdom. They were ready for a parade—but not prepared for a crucifixion. And if we’re not careful, church—we can shout “Hosanna” with our lips but resist His Lordship in our lives. So the question this morning is not just “What happened on Palm Sunday?” The real question is: When the King shows up—how will you respond?

Transition: Our text offers us the unique character of Jesus that is just as significant today as it was in our passage. The first is that . . .

Jesus is A King Who Shows Up Different (vv. 1–5)

Matthew 21:1–5 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.’ ”

As Jesus and the disciples draw near to Jerusalem, Jesus sends two of them ahead with specific instructions. He tells them where to find a donkey and her colt. He tells them exactly what to say. And everything unfolds just as He said it would.

This wasn’t a coincidence—it was a fulfillment. Jesus was intentionally fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, which says:

“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.”

This prophecy had been spoken over 500 years earlier—and by entering Jerusalem this way, Jesus wasn’t just arriving humbly… He was declaring loud and clear: “I am the King you’ve been waiting for.”

In those days, a conquering king would ride a war horse—but a king coming in peace would ride a donkey. Jesus comes not as a conqueror with weapons, but as a Savior with peace, grace, and intentionality. His entrance isn’t random—it’s revelation.

Let’s break it down:

“Your king is coming to you” – This wasn’t just a good man or a wise teacher. This was your King—personally, directly, and deliberately coming to fulfill God’s redemptive plan.

“Righteous and having salvation” – He comes not only to rule, but to redeem. Not only with justice, but with grace.

“Humble and mounted on a donkey” – Not a warhorse. Not a chariot. Not with fanfare and armies. But humbly—just like His birth in a manger, He comes in gentleness, not aggression.

By fulfilling this prophecy to the detail—riding not just any donkey, but a young colt—Jesus is showing He is in complete control. This is not accidental. It’s not forced. It’s divine.

This act is not just humble—it’s holy. Jesus is both Messiah and Master—the one who commands donkeys and disciples, fulfills Scripture, and reveals the heart of God.

First-century Palestine was a land simmering with political unrest. The Jewish people lived under Roman occupation—taxed heavily, policed harshly, and yearning for a Messiah who would rise up and overthrow their oppressors. Many expected a military deliverer, someone like Judas Maccabeus from generations before who had led a successful revolt.

So when Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem not on a war horse, but on a donkey—a humble animal associated with peace (cf. Zechariah 9:9)—He was making a countercultural, prophetic statement. He was declaring Himself King, but not the kind they expected. His kingdom wouldn’t come through violence or revolution, but through humility, service, and sacrifice.

Application: Jesus knows what He’s doing—even when it doesn’t look like progress. Obedience to Jesus may mean making a decision that doesn’t earn applause at work, or taking a stand in your family that others don’t understand. Maybe it means refusing to gossip at the office, stepping back from a relationship that’s pulling you away from Christ, or saying “yes” to serving in ministry even when your schedule is packed. Letting the King in means giving Him access to your calendar, your character, and your choices.

🙌🏾 Proclaim It: He didn’t need to shout, “I am King!” His actions declared it. The donkey didn’t just carry a man—it carried the Messiah. And when prophecy and humility met at the city gate, heaven’s King entered earth’s city.

Transition: The text today further teaches us that. . .

Jesus is A King Who Deserves More Than A Moment (vv. 6–9)

Matthew 21:6–9 ESV

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!”

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the crowd erupts. Cloaks are laid on the road—an act of submission and honor. Palm branches are waved—a national symbol of Jewish pride and hope. The people are quoting Psalm 118, a song of victory. But they expected liberation from Rome, not liberation from sin. They wanted a revolution, not a Redeemer. They cheered for a crown, not a cross. Their 'Hosanna' meant 'Save us now!'—but they didn’t understand what salvation really meant. Illustration: It’s like fans who cheer for a team when they’re winning, but boo when they’re losing. This crowd was shouting 'Hosanna' today, but by Friday they would be shouting 'Crucify Him.' Why? Because He didn’t do what they wanted. Application: Be careful that your worship isn’t just excitement without understanding. Are you following Jesus for what He can give you, or for who He is? Don’t just praise Him when He meets your expectations—trust Him when He defies them.

Are you following Jesus when the paycheck is short? When the diagnosis isn’t good? When the doors you prayed for stay closed? It’s easy to shout “Hosanna” on Sunday and doubt Him by Friday. Letting the King in looks like trusting Him in the in-between—when you didn’t get the job, but you still give. When the relationship failed, but you still believe. When He says “wait,” and you worship anyway.

Transition: Lastly, we learn that. . .

Jesus is A King Who Shakes Everything Up (vv. 10–11)

Matthew 21:10–11 ESV

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.”

That word 'stirred' in Greek is seio—where we get the word seismic. It means to shake, to quake. Jesus’ entrance literally shook the city. His presence caused a stir—just like it still does today. Some were amazed. Some were confused. But nobody stayed the same.

When Jesus enters a person's life, a powerful transformation takes place. It is like a seismic shift that shakes the very foundation of one's being. The love and grace of Jesus penetrate the deepest parts of the soul, bringing healing and restoration. The light of His presence shines brightly, illuminating the darkness and bringing clarity to confusion.

Similarly, when Jesus enters a family, His love binds them together in a way that is unbreakable. He brings unity where there was once division, peace where there was chaos, and hope where there was despair. The family becomes a reflection of His love, a testament to His faithfulness.

And when Jesus enters a church, His presence stirs hearts and ignites a passion for serving Him. The congregation is moved to action, reaching out to the community with love and compassion. The church becomes a beacon of hope, shining the light of Jesus to a world in need.

So, when Jesus enters, things truly begin to shake, but it is a shaking that brings new life, new hope, and new purpose. It is a shaking that transforms hearts and lives, leaving a lasting impact for eternity.

Application: Has Jesus stirred something in your life? Or have you grown comfortable in a crowd that watches Him pass by? Palm Sunday isn’t just about waving palm branches—it’s about letting the King walk into your heart and transform it from the inside out.

Letting the King in means you no longer live on autopilot. You’re not just doing Sunday church, but Monday obedience. You start speaking more gently to your spouse, modeling integrity at work, being intentional with your kids, and repenting quickly when you fall short. Jesus doesn’t come to decorate your life—He comes to rearrange it. And if He’s never shaken your priorities, your peace, or your pride—maybe He’s not ruling, just visiting.

Conclusion

The triumphal entry was a paradox: a King riding a donkey. A celebration before a crucifixion. A parade that didn’t lead to a throne, but to a cross. It reminds me of how we celebrate during Juneteenth parades, or Black History Month. There’s music, movement, color, and energy. But if you look past the celebration, you’ll see a struggle that birthed that joy. Those parades aren’t just about freedom—they’re about the fight that made freedom possible. Palm Sunday was like that. The people celebrated a freedom they didn’t fully understand. They wanted a parade without a passion. They waved their palms but missed the purpose.

But don't miss this: that same Jesus who rode into the city to die… is coming again to reign. And the next time—He won’t be riding on a donkey. Revelation 19 says He’ll be on a white horse, with eyes like fire, a robe dipped in blood, and a name written that no one knows but Himself. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

He came not to wear a crown of gold—but a crown of thorns. He came not to sit on a throne—but to be lifted high on a cross. He came not to destroy the Romans—but to destroy the grip of sin. He came not with armies of angels—but with the burden of our sins on His back. And when they hung Him high and stretched Him wide… When they pierced His side and sealed His tomb… That wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning! Because early—yes, early Sunday morning… He got up! With all power… resurrection power… kingdom power in His hands! And He’s still coming today. Coming into hearts. Coming into homes. Coming into churches. Here comes the King! The question is: Will you let Him in?

Letting the King in is more than shouting when He enters—it’s submitting when He speaks. It’s letting Him sit on the throne of your heart on Monday morning, not just during Sunday worship. Because when you really let Him in—He changes everything.