Your King is Coming to You
Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSVue)
Lectionary Gospel Reading
Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem begins Holy Week. On this day we walk alongside Jesus who rides on a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. Bring your palm branches and your garments to lay before his way through the Holy City. As we draw ever closer to the cross, one thing’s for sure, Jesus won’t let you off easy. The road to the cross will challenge you. It’ll make you feel uncomfortable. He won’t always tell you what you want to hear. He’ll mess with your politics, with your life. Jesus doesn’t want to campaign for your party or vote for your candidate. He wants you to join his revolutionary movement of love, peace, forgiveness, justice, service, suffering, and mission to the world. On Palm Sunday, Jesus wants to deconstruct our images of power and authority, from a warlike stallion to humble and gentle donkey. Pledge your allegiance to Christ above all others. Be constantly humbled by the possibility of superficial hosannas that are devoid of the cross. Don’t forget the words of our Rabbi: Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
You see, Jesus wants to be the king of our hearts and lives. Follow him into the streets and all the way to the cross, through thick and thin. “Who is this? That mild-mannered man at the middle of it all? Who is that?” “It’s Jesus, a prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!” This humble and gentle one riding on a donkey at his first coming is the one who will be riding on a white horse at his Second Coming. Come into our hearts, Lord Jesus! Come back for us again!
April 2, 2023 – Palm Sunday
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Sermon Art: Palm Sunday Cross
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This Week’s Bible Study and Discussion Questions –Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSVue)
- Questions or comments about the passage?
- Do you think Jesus made previous arrangements or was he predicting where the colt was and what people would say to the disciples?
- Why does Matthew in his gospel put such a strong emphasis on how Jesus fulfilled the Hebrew scriptures?
- The prophet Zechariah foretold centuries before Christ: a) Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion. Your king comes to you, triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey and on a colt. . . and he shall command peace to the nations. b) How has Jesus fulfilled this Scripture?
- What do donkeys teach us about Jesus’ character?
- In what ways today do we attempt to convince Jesus to mount a war steed instead of donkey?
- In what way is Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem a “Triumphal Entry?” How is it a “Humble Entry?”
- David Hawkins in his book Power vs. Force, shows the contrast between power and force. What do you think of his assessments?
Power/Force
- Humble/Arrogant
- Unassuming/Has all the answers
- Supports life/Exploits life
- Attracts/Repels
- Serves others/Self-serving
- Stays true to values/Will violate values for gain
- Relies on truth/Relies on rhetoric and propaganda
- Unifies/Polarizes
- Appeals to our higher nature/Appeals to our lower nature
Bible scholars have noted that Matthew’s most important question in his gospel is “Who is Jesus?” Why is this an important question? Who do you say Jesus is?
Other Sermons In This Series
Palm Sunday: Lifting Jesus Up
April 14, 2019
The Ascent to Jerusalem
March 20, 2016
Who Is This?
April 09, 2017