Palm Sunday: Welcoming the Right King
A Holy Week message by Dr. Mark Jordan, Pastor
We all carry expectations, but what happens when they are unmet, or met in a way that goes against our preferences?
Matthew 21:1-11 (NIV) | As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. 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 right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Symbols of Palm Sunday
Ø The Donkey: kings rode in times of peace vs a steed as in times of war.
Ø People’s Cloaks: symbolized surrender of self, submission to authority, personal sacrifice, and a yielding of individual rights.
Ø Palm Branches: Used to celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem from foreign oppression after Maccabean Revolt (Hanukah). Also used on coins as a national symbol of strength and victory.
Ø Hosannah: not just a shout of praise, but a plea for Jesus to, “Save Us Now!”
What kind of king will Jesus be in your life?
Palm Sunday invites us to move from admiration to allegiance. From cheering for Jesus to following Jesus.
Reflection Questions
- What expectations do I currently have of God — and how do I tend to respond when He works differently than I hoped?
- In what areas of my life is it easy to celebrate Jesus, and in what areas is it difficult to surrender to Him?
- Am I more interested in what Jesus can do for me, or in allowing Him to truly rule over me?
- How might Jesus be inviting me right now to trust His plan even when I don’t fully understand it?
- What is one practical step I can take this week to move from simply admiring Jesus to actively following Him?