Palm Sunday
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The King Comes to Us: Palm Sunday
The King Comes to Us: Palm Sunday
Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-11, John 12:12-19, Luke 19:28-40
Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-11, John 12:12-19, Luke 19:28-40
As Christians:
We reflect on our own expectations of Jesus and the kind of King we desire.
Think about how we welcome into our lives and recognize his authority, especially during times of struggle.
Preparation for the King
Preparation for the King
1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,
2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me.
3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.”
4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
What were the circumstances surrounding Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem as described in the sermon?
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Jesus meticulously prepared the donkey fulfilling prophecy from Zechariah 9:9.
This shows the intentionality of Jesus' actions!
How do we prepare our own hearts for his coming?
Do we approach his arrival with intentionality and openness?
What is the theological significance of Jesus' choice to ride a donkey into Jerusalem?
Praise with Purpose
Praise with Purpose
6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them.
8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
How do we prepare our own hearts for His coming, and do we approach His arrival with intentionality and openness?
What does hosannah mean?
Hosanna is a Hebrew or Aramaic term whose literal meaning is:
“Save, please,” though it’s often mistaken for a declaration of praise similar to hallelujah, when it’s actually a plea for salvation.
The word combines two Hebrew roots: yasha (“deliver, save”) and anna (“beg, beseech”), making its literal sense “I beg you to save!” or “please deliver us!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The crowds’ expectations fundamentally misaligned with Jesus’s purpose!
When they waved palms and shouted “Hosanna” at Jesus, the people celebrated a victory over the Romans they expected their Messiah to achieve!
The salvation that the people of Jerusalem wanted that day was political, not spiritual!
They were only interested in a temporary, worldly fulfillment of the messianic prophecies!
What does 'hosanna' mean and how does this understanding shift our perspective on the crowd's expectations of Jesus?
11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
They did not understand what He had come to do, because the very phrase “Hosanna” means save now.
However, their understanding of what needed saving was entirely wrong.
They thought Jesus Christ was going to come in and say, “I am now the King of Israel” and they would overthrow the Romans who had kept them in chains and had made them serve as slaves and overtaxed them!
How does the crowd's misunderstanding of Jesus' purpose influence our understanding of His kingship today?
Perception of Prophecy
Perception of Prophecy
12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord —the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written:
15 Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
The prophecy fulfillment and initial misunderstanding of the disciples. Although they didn't fully grasp the significance at the moment, later, they understood after Jesus was glorified!
This suggests that our understanding of Jesus' kingship can grow as we reflect on his life and work!
Proclaiming the King's Power
Proclaiming the King's Power
17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.
18 This is also why the crowd met him, because they heard he had done this sign.
See how the witness of the crowd, and the miracle of Lazarus, spread Jesus' fame.
This points to the importance of testimony in advancing God's kingdom!
How do our testimonies of Christ's work in our lives help others come to see his kingship?
How can we emotionally and spiritually prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus into our lives?
19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
This statement reveals the Pharisees’ exasperation at losing control of the narrative surrounding Jesus!
-their complaint actually confirms something theologically true!
Power in Humility
Power in Humility
28 When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples
30 and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
Jesus' authority extends over all creation!
—he calmly instructs his disciples regarding the colt, demonstrating his control.
Jesus embodies the paradox of power expressed through humility;
—Jesus enters Jerusalem as king while deliberately choosing a mode of entry that communicates peace rather than military conquest.
We should trust in Jesus’ sovereignty over our lives even amidst uncertainties.
Praise or Stones Cry Out
Praise or Stones Cry Out
32 So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 “The Lord needs it,” they said.
35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it.
36 As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road.
37 Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
38 Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
This underscores the necessity of acknowledging Jesus' lordship!
We must evaluate whether our lives are marked by;
Worship!
Proclamation!
Allowing no rocks to take our praise!
Do you see Jesus for who he is?
We must recognize and embrace Jesus as our true King, welcoming him into every part of our lives, especially when facing our struggles and uncertainties.
