“The King We Didn’t Expect”

🌿 Palm Sunday

📖 Matthew 21:1–11

Introduction

Danny had recently passed his driving test and decided to ask his pastor father if there was any chance of him getting a car for Christmas, which was yet some months away. “Okay.” said his father, “I tell you what I'll do. If you can get your 'C' level grades up to 'A's and 'B's, study your bible and get your hair cut, I'll consider the matter very seriously.

”A month later Danny went back to his father who said “I'm really impressed by your commitment to your studies. Your grades are excellent and the work you have put into your bible studies is very encouraging. However, I have to say I'm very disappointed that you haven't had your hair cut yet.”

Danny was smart and never lost for an answer. “Look dad. In the course of my bible studies I've noticed in the illustrations that Moses, John the Baptist, Samson and even Jesus had long hair.” “Yes. I'm aware of that…” replied his father “... but did you also notice they walked wherever they went?”

The Triumphal Entry

21 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.”

I read this week about the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

It took months of preparation—

Designers spent 8 months on her gown

The crown had a 530-carat diamond

The whole world watched with precision and power

Everything screamed: ROYALTY. POWER. GLORY.

Now compare that to Jesus.

No golden carriage.

No royal robe.

No crown (yet… well, not the kind they expected).

Instead…

A borrowed donkey.

Dusty roads.

People throwing down their coats like, “This is all I’ve got.”

Let’s be honest—

If you were planning the arrival of the King of Kings…

this wouldn’t be your plan.

And that’s the point.

👉 Jesus is not the King we expect… but He is exactly the King we need.

Point 1: Trust What Jesus Says—even when it doesn’t make sense

📖 Matthew 21:2-3 – “Go into the village… you will find a donkey…”

Think about this moment.

Jesus tells His disciples:

“Go untie a donkey… and if someone asks, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

That sounds like a terrible plan 😂

But they obeyed anyway.

Explanation

Jesus often asks us to trust Him before we understand Him.

The world says:

“Follow your truth”

“Define your own morality”

“Do what feels right”

Jesus says:

👉 “Follow Me.”

Illustration

It’s like GPS.

You ever ignore GPS because you think you know better…

…and suddenly you’re in a neighborhood where even Google Maps is nervous?

Jesus is the only GPS that never reroutes wrong.

Application

Trust Him in your decisions

Trust Him in your parenting

Trust Him in your struggles

👉 If Jesus says it… that settles it.

Point 2: Be Humble—because your King is humble

📖 Matthew 21:5 – “Your king is coming… humble, mounted on a donkey”

Kings rode war horses.

Jesus chose a donkey.

Why?

Because He didn’t come to conquer Rome—

He came to conquer sin.

📖 Philippians 2:7-8

“He humbled Himself… to the point of death—even death on a cross.”

Explanation

Jesus had every right to demand glory…

but instead He chose humility.

Illustration

Imagine a CEO of a billion-dollar company…

showing up to work, cleaning floors, serving coffee, helping employees.

You’d say, “That’s not normal.”

Exactly.

👉 That’s Jesus.

Application

Humility in your marriage

Humility in your workplace

Humility in your church

👉 Pride says, “Look at me.”

👉 Humility says, “Point to Him.”

Point 3: Worship Jesus—not just with words, but with your life

📖 Matthew 21:8-9 – “Hosanna… Blessed is He…”

The crowd was LOUD.

They were passionate.

They were emotional.

They were shouting, “Hosanna!”

But here’s the problem…

👉 Many of those same voices would later shout, “Crucify Him.”

Explanation

It’s easy to worship Jesus when things are good.

But real worship is consistent.

Illustration

It’s like fans at a football game.

When the team is winning—

everyone’s cheering.

But when they start losing?

Suddenly it’s:

“Fire the coach! Bench the quarterback!”

Some people treat Jesus the same way.

Application

Ask yourself:

Do I worship Jesus only when life is easy?

Or do I trust Him when life is hard?

👉 Worship is not just what you say on Sunday—

it’s how you live on Monday.

Point 4: Prepare Your Heart—not just your house

You said it well:

People prepare for Easter with:

Food

Eggs

Family gatherings

Cleaning the house

But what about your heart?

📖 Psalm 139:23-24

“Search me, O God… see if there is any wicked way in me…”

Explanation

Palm Sunday wasn’t just a celebration…

It was a setup for the cross.

Illustration

It’s like getting ready for guests.

You clean everything:

Living room ✔️

Kitchen ✔️

Bathrooms ✔️

But imagine Jesus walking in and saying:

“Everything looks good… but what about your heart?”

Application

Confess sin

Let go of bitterness

Ask God to change you

👉 Don’t just prepare your calendar for Easter…

prepare your soul.

Conclusion: Who Is This King to You?

📖 Matthew 21:10 – “The whole city was stirred… ‘Who is this?’”

That’s the question.

Not just for Jerusalem…

👉 For YOU.

Is He just a teacher?

Just a tradition?

Just a Sunday thing?

Or…

👉 Is He your King?

Because here’s the truth:

The same Jesus who rode in on a donkey…

is the same Jesus who walked to a cross…

and the same Jesus who rose from the grave.

And one day—

👉 He’s coming back again…

not on a donkey…

but as a conquering King.

Final Challenge

This week:

Trust Him

Follow Him

Worship Him

Surrender to Him

Because Palm Sunday reminds us:

👉 The King has come.

👉 The King has died.

👉 The King has risen.

👉 And the King is coming again.