Holy Week Guide | Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

MATTHEW 21:1-11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“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.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

After three and a half years of public ministry, Jesus’ time on earth is drawing to a close as we join this passage in Matthew 21. Jesus instructs a couple of His disciples to go ahead of Him and procure a donkey’s colt that He might enter Jerusalem one last time. This act will fulfill yet another Old Testament prophecy of his identity as Messiah! Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) declares:

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.

Jesus, the eternal King of Kings, enters Jerusalem on a lowly colt of a donkey. The mule was the typical royal standard to demonstrate power and prestige. A colt communicated humility and lowliness. And yet, this King possesses righteousness and salvation! In reality, His lordship could not be more exalted. In the accompanying passage of the triumphal entry in Luke 19, Jesus says that if His disciples didn’t cry out, the rocks would! While the means of His entry might be humble, the eternal nature of His entry could not be more majestic! As Jesus enters, His followers and those around begin to declare the praises of this humble King. They break out into chorus by chanting refrains from Psalm 118:25-26, a psalm that declared praises to God for His victories over the Gentile armies through the Davidic king. This gives us insight into the people’s thoughts concerning Jesus’ mission. While Jesus was fully cognizant and determined to fulfill His mission of self-sacrifice as an eternal Savior, the people of His day were hopeful and determined that He be their military savior and topple the Romans. Considering this, it is no wonder that merely four days later, many in this crowd would endorse Jesus’ crucifixion at the hands of the Romans! If he wasn’t able to meet their expectations, they had little use for him!

APPLICATION

How do unrealized expectations of God affect our relationship with Him? How do those seasons of life when things don’t seem to transpire in the manner we hoped or planned influence our faith in Jesus? How does the reality of the Cross affect this?

Paul says in Romans 6:4 that we were buried with Christ that we “might walk in newness of life.” This imagery of burial (death) in Christ and the newness of life in Him should challenge us to realize that our lives are no longer our own. Therefore, we live BY FAITH as those who know that our lives are now united to Christ and His mission. Consequently, we submit to His sovereign will and rest in the truth that we are His son or His daughter. This unity with Christ should banish our need for expectations. We rest in the goodness of our Father and the sacrifice of our Savior.

PRAYER

Holy, Holy, Holy God…we join with those who sang your praises as you entered into Jerusalem one last time! Oh, how we wonder at the reality that you willingly entered the city with full clarity that it would lead to the cross!

And now, Father, we ask that you might so unite us with your Son, Jesus, that our need for expectation would be banished. Would you empower us by your Spirit to rest in the security that we are now your son or your daughter and you are our heavenly Father?

Amen.

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FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

THINK

Have you ever been to a parade? Crowds of happy people line the streets anxiously waiting to see what colorful float will pass by next. Marching bands play loud festive music and step in unison as their shiny instruments glisten in the sun. Big balloons in the shape of cartoon characters float above the heads of the crowds. And then there are the funny clowns cartwheeling down the street acting silly and joking with the audience. Men, women, and children wave, applaud, and cheer with enthusiastic approval of each person as they parade through town. What a fun and exciting event!

READ

MATTHEW 21 : 1-11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“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.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Here we read about another parade. And while this particular parade was very different than the parades we think about today, one thing is the same: the people. The crowds of people were excited and happy, waving and cheering with great approval as Jesus rode down the streets of Jerusalem on a donkey. They even laid down palm branches in the street for the donkey to step on. It was an act to show honor and to welcome a great leader. It was as if the people were saying, “You are the king we have been waiting for!” But Jesus is more important than any earthly king and He wasn’t coming this day to claim His kingdom. And while this day was special, it was not the best day ever. God’s plan is greater…and the best was yet to come!

SAY

“Dear God, I praise you for your great plan. Thank you for sending Jesus to be our King of Kings. Amen.”

DO

Write down three ways you are going to honor Jesus this week and share it with your family.