Matthew 21:1-11
Devotion by Tina Miller Sermon by Rich Lanning
April 13, 2025
Introduction
Ask: What do you think the arrival of a king into his city should look like?
Watch some video footage of such events, for example, King Charles’ coronation procession from 2023
Today we’ll be reading the familiar account of Jesus entering Jerusalem as King on what we now call “Palm Sunday.”
Pray
“Give us real knowledge of what we read. Show us not only how to understand it, but how to live it, so we might live in Spirit and in truth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Origen)
Looking into the scripture passage
You’ve probably read/heard this story more than once, but let’s listen and think about it carefully.
Read: Matthew 21:1-11
Ask: What did Jesus ride as he came into Jerusalem?
Why did Matthew say he did this? [to fulfill a prophecy] This prophecy was made by God through Zechariah 500 years earlier! Isn’t that amazing!
What does this tell us about God? [that everything is happening according to his plan. His word is always true, and whatever he says comes to pass.]
Ask: What word did the prophecy use to describe the king who would be riding on the donkey?
[humble, gentle, lowly, depending on your Bible translation]
Do we usually think of kings as humble, lowly, and gentle?
How was Jesus lowly and gentle? [this question was discussed in the devotion from April 6, 2025]
He always obeyed the Father; he came serving the hurting and the sick and the lost; he left his position in heaven, to experience the troubles we go through and to die in the place of sinners.
Ask: What did the people call Jesus as they shouted “Hosanna!”?
Do you know what is important about this name?
Read: 2 Samuel 7:12-13a
What does this tell us about Jesus? What does it tell us about God?
Jesus is the king who will reign forever, the one God promised to David and to Israel, the one who fulfills God’s plan for his kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.
Read: Revelation 19:11-16
Ask: How does this second coming of Jesus compare to the first one we read about in Matthew’s gospel? What is he riding? Does he seem gentle and lowly? What is the name he is called by here? One day we will get to see Jesus with our own eyes as the King of Kings. That will be amazing!
When you think about these two pictures of Jesus as king, how do you think we will feel on that day?
Apply the passage
Activity 1: Find out what “hosanna” means.
The people shouting on the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem thought he had come to save them from their enemies, the Romans, but a few days later Jesus died on a cross at the hand of the Romans. What kind of saving did Jesus come to do that first time?
Was that part of God’s plan? Or had God’s plan gotten messed up? (See John 10:17-18)
Have you turned to Jesus to save you from your sins?
Activity 2: The benediction at the end of the Palm Sunday service came from 1 Timothy 1:17. Read that together and spend time praising the eternal king to whom belongs glory forever!
Memorize
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Luke 19:38a
Practice the verse: Shout it out!!!
Extra Stuff
Songs to sing
“Rejoice the Lord is King” (traditional hymn)
“Hallelujah, Salvation, and Glory” (Steve Green)
Books to read (these can be borrowed from the Kidstuff table in the church foyer)
A Wonderful Surprise by Sally Michael
The Promise: The Amazing Story of Our Long-Awaited Savior by Jason Helopoulos
The Story of God our King by Kenneth Padgett
