Stripped of Illusions - Week 6 of Stripped

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Palm Sunday

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“Stripped of Illusions: The King We Didn’t Expect” – Week 6 of the Stripped Series

1. Introduction & Series Recap

Today is Palm Sunday, and week 6 of our Stripped, Lenten series.

Hook

Over the past few weeks we’ve talked about being stripped of pride, sin, the old self, and even about how Christ stripped the powers of their hold. Today, on Palm Sunday, we see how Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem stripped away many of the people’s illusions of a conquering, worldly king. Have you ever had your expectations totally reversed by reality?”

I can think of many.

Sports stardom in school

Marriage

Kids and family illusions

Career and success illusions

Having a long a healthy life without hardships

Seeing the world become a better place… maybe even world peace.

I went work for my father in law just before Allison and I got married… not because I wanted to be an electrician, but because I was under the illusion that I might one day own his business.

Later on, as I had been moved out to the water plant myself and an old co-worker were talking and I told him “I won’t be here a year...” to which he told me I was wrong, and “Once you come here you’re stuck.”

I was under the illusion I had better places to be or better things to do. And I’ve spent much of my life seeking my illusions come true I suppose.

Often, we all fall prey to our illusions or have illusions of success, power, healing, comfort, children, marriage, and so much more.

Connection to Palm Sunday

We’re no different than those who lined the streets of Jerusalem welcoming Jesus with palm branches and Hosannas, believing He’d overthrow Roman rule.

Yet this same crowd soon turned—their illusions about a political conqueror shattered when they realized Jesus came to lay down His life.

People wanted a Messiah on their terms—“Save us now!”—yet Jesus’ kingdom isn’t about worldly success, politics, or quick fixes.

Christ came to die, to gain an earthly throne.

Lent reminds us of this as well as His own call to us to do the same.

This may not be the Messiah we desire, but it is the One we need.

Let us be stripped of our wrong illusions so that we come face to face with the Savior and His vision and plan for our lives.

Recap of Weeks 1–5

Stripped of Pride

Stripped for Purification

Stripped of the Old Self

Stripped in Humiliation

Stripped the Powers

Transition - Today is Palm Sunday… Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

This isn’t the vision the people had for the Saviour they had in mind.

Engagement Question:

“What expectations or illusions have you formed about how God ‘should’ act, and how has reality challenged them?”

2. Old Testament Prophecy

Reading the Prophecy

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

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.

A donkey signifying humility and peace, not warhorse aggression.

Zechariah was speaking in contrast to the warhorses that Alexander the Great and his men had ridden on conquering the lands.

Zech was pointing to the future Messiah who would Himself save His people, not by military might, but instead in His own righteousness making those who are unrighteous have peace with God.

Illusions of a Conquering Hero

Many Jews expected a military deliverer overthrowing Rome. He was to be in the line of David, and therefore they likely expected Him to be a mighty warrior finally ready to rise and take what was His and save his people.

The donkey itself may have had much symbolism. It wasn’t a war horse that’s for sure.

The donkey suggests a different kind of kingdom—peaceful, gentle, yet powerfully divine.

The illusions about political victory alone needed to be stripped away.

I think we too fall prey to this one today. We’re looking for a human savior to rescue us from the evils of this world and so we place our bets on the options we’re given. And, we’re usually let down. Our earthly leaders continue to fail us.

Our true saving comes from the one true Messiah alone, not in political or military powers.

3. The Triumphal Entry

Today marks the last week before Jesus is killed on the Cross. And we’re going to read from John’s Gospel.

He begins in John 12:12 “On the next day”..., and this was Sunday, 6 days before the Passover, mentioned in John 12:1.

John 12:12–15 ESV

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

The People’s Response

The people thought now was the time.… Hosanna! “Save us now!”

The picture: A procession of Jesus’s disciples, His following, headed onto the road into Jerusalem. Others from Jerusalem coming out to meet the procession and doing the same.

Luke records some of the Pharisees in the crowd see and hear this and they tell Jesus, “rebuke your disciples.”

Waving palm branches - an emblem of triumph.

The Gospel of Mark - “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David.”

They were under the illusion their time under Roman rule was about to end. Their earthly King was here to save them.

Illusions on Display

Their illusions would have included immediate political victory, national restoration, prosperity.

But Jesus' approach in humility clashed with these triumphal expectations.

How many of us thought, or think, because we have Christ and love God, that He should be responding to our situation differently?

You’re still struggling financially, though you’re giving faithfully?

You’re still sick though you’ve prayed for and even been anointed for healing?

You’re single though you have such a deep desire for companionship and yet God hasn’t brought “the one” into your life yet?

How do you respond to your unmet illusions?

Foreshadowing

Many of those in the same crowd that were praising Him would later shout, “Crucify Him!”—the illusions they cherished crumbled once they saw He wasn’t taking up arms.

Engagement Question:

“When you first come to Christ, what illusions might you have had that haven’t worked out as you thought?”

4. Jesus Strips Away False Expectations

Misunderstood Messiah

The donkey ride was a direct claim to be Messiah yet a statement of humility—He wouldn’t be enthroned by brute force. He didn’t come to be a political pawn, or bring about earthly peace.

He did come to save, but from sin and death, not just from Rome.

He did come to reign as King but His Kingdom isn’t an earthly status.

Stripping Illusions

Jesus reveals that God’s kingdom is not about short-term answers or success.

Jesus’s humility challenges us to let go of our illusions—like believing God simply endorses our personal agendas.

From “Hosanna” to “Crucify”

Once their illusions were dashed, some turned against Him.

We, too, can grow disillusioned if God doesn’t match our preferred script.

Engagement Question:

“What illusions about God’s kingdom or blessings might you still be clinging to, hoping He’ll fulfill on your terms?”

5. Why It Matters for Us Today

Facing Modern Illusions

Like them, we can chase a Messiah of comfort, prosperity, immediate victory—overlooking the cross’s call to self-denial.

Matthew 16:24–25 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Jesus shows genuine kingdom power is found in sacrificial love, kingdom focus, not earthly gains.

Hope Beyond Human Solutions

In a world longing for strong leaders or quick fixes, Jesus says the true path to lasting peace is through servant-hood and redemptive suffering.

We realize our illusions about worldly success or power must be stripped for us to see God’s agenda.

Lenten Focus

As we near Easter, we’re reminded of Christ triumphs through humility and the cross.

6. Lenten Applications: Embracing the Real Messiah

What are you expecting from God’s Messiah?

Examine Your Expectations

“Lord, am I expecting a comfortable Messiah who always says yes to my plans? Or am I ready to follow the Suffering Servant, donkey-riding King?”

Choose Servant-hood Over Self-Glory

In relationships, workplaces, or ministries, opt for humble service.

Choose the Cross over the crown.

If our journey is to suffer for the Lord, let us do so in praise of Him no matter our situation.

Let us live for His glory, not our own.

Prepare Your Heart for Easter

As we prepare for Easter, let us remember to seek the Kingdom, the His Kingdom, and not our own.

Just as God raised Jesus from the grave, He will also raise you one day to the glory He has prepared for you. Don’t settle for the illusion of earthly wellness or success, seek the higher calling and gift He has for you.

7. Conclusion & Call to Response

I know there are many of you listening who life has not turned out how you thought it would or should.

My encouragement is for you to have faith, that though in this life you have suffered, or will suffer, many trials. One day, you’ll wake up in the Kingdom where your troubles will no longer be.

Until then, let us praise the King as He deserves, as more than an earthly Savior, but the Savior we need, who redeems us from the curse of sin.

The gospel - laying down our life to live in Him. Come and die, not come an reign.

Closing prayer

Closing song

The Illusion of Safety

Zechariah 9:9 Tyre had built a “new Tyre,” as an island, isolated and thought to be well protected during Alexander the Great’s conquests. However, thought without a navy, Alexander made a land bridge from the ruins of Old Tyre. New Tyre, not only was an island but it also had a double wall built as much as one hundred and fifty feet high surrounding it.