Palm Sunday: Jesus is King

ETS: Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Triumphant King.

ESS: We should welcome Jesus into our hearts as the Triumphant King.

OSS: Evangelistic, Doctrinal; I want the hearers to welcome Jesus into the city of their hearts as the Triumphant King.

PQ: What Christological elements are present in this passage? (Simple: What characteristics define Christ as King in this passage?)

UW: elements

TS: This passage, along with the other accounts in the Gospels, is known as “the Triumphal Entry.” However, there was not much triumph in Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem. Every step taken into the city was a step taken closer to His painful death. However, we know it today as the Triumphal Entry because it was this entrance that led to His triumphal resurrection. While each Gospel account has its own emphasis and special detail, every Gospel account records these three common elements: Jesus rides into the city of Jerusalem on a colt; People (both disciples and the crowd of followers) laid before Him their garments and some palm branches; People shouted praises and blessings as He entered, embracing His arrival. However, Matthew’s account emphasized several Christological elements of Jesus as King which were evident in His entry. Let us now examine these emphases together:

Sovereign King (vv. 2-3)

While some scholars have suggested this event as prearranged or an assumption that there would be donkeys and colts at every village, it seems best to understand this as the Sovereignty of Jesus- displaying His Supernatural Knowledge that there would be a donkey and colt at the nearby village.

Jesus is Sovereign.

Authoritative King (vv. 2-3)

Jesus displayed His authority over both humans and animals in these verses.

He commanded the disciples to go get the donkey and colt.

He rode the colt into the city, one which had never been ridden before (Mk. 11:2)

He called Himself Lord (ὁ Κύριος), an authoritative title.

Jesus is authoritative.

Humble King (vv. 4-5)

This verse pulls from Isaiah 62:11 and fulfills Zechariah 9:9.

The people would have expected Jesus to ride in on a warhorse as was typical of a king, but Jesus rode in on, not only a donkey, but a colt- displaying ultimate humility.

Jesus is humble.

Royal King (vv. 6-8)

It was accustomed in their culture for people to spread their clothes and palm branches across the road ahead of a king entering the city (1 Kings 1:33;38, King Solomon; 2 Kings 9:1-13, King Jehu). This displayed His royalty.

Jesus is royal.

Savior King (v. 9)

Hosanna (Ὡσαννὰ) is the Greek term of a Hebrew term meaning “save now”

This is a quote of Psalm 118:25-26.

Jesus is Savior.

Conclusion:

There are two major implications as we study the Christological elements of this passage and the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem:

(1) Just as Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem, He desires to enter into the city of your heart today (and every heart).

(2) Jesus as Jesus’ entrance was initially one of humility and later marked with triumph, our entry into the Kingdom ought to be one of humility, acknowledging that we do not deserve admittance, which will later be crowned with victory, when we are face to face with Him.

Today, what holds you back from affirming Jesus as King of your heart? What stands between you and the King entering your city in triumph?