This week, we examine who this Jesus was who entered Jerusalem and why he did it in the manner that he chose.  As 2 million Jewish men and women congregated in the city of peace (Jerusalem), the king of peace (Jesus) rode in on the image of peace (a donkey).  Through the story of Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-11), the Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse into the heart of our God, a God who would not only accept but even orchestrate his own humiliating rejection in order to bring us, his children, back into relationship with him.

Tyler’s Main Points

• Jesus declares himself the Messiah and King.
• Jesus is in control amidst the chaos.
• Jesus was rejected as king so that you can be received by God.

Key Takeaways

• Matthew 21:1-11 depicts “The Triumphant Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem.  With this entry, we must ask ourselves three things:
  • Who is this Jesus?
  • What is he doing?
  • Why is he doing this?

• Now, Jesus declares himself the undeniable Messiah King:
  • He fulfills Biblical prophecy, riding into Jerusalem on a colt (Zechariah 9:9)
  • His entrance parallels a King’s coronation
  • He receives the title given to him and its prophetic significance
  • He rebuts the Pharisees, explaining that if man does not acknowledge his title, creation will (Luke 19:39-40)

• We cannot claim Jesus to simply be a teacher, but we must either accept him as Lord or reject him as a lunatic or liar.

• Jesus provokes Israel’s religious officials, forcing them to act against him, by choosing to reveal himself during the Passover, intentionally moving towards his own crucifixion.

• Jesus’ life was not taken away by the Pharisees or Romans, but instead, it was freely given to later be taken back up (John 10:17-18).

• If Christ controlled even his own death, planning his resurrection before the foundation of the world, then he can be trusted with any of our burdens.

• Hosanna means “save now” or “save us we pray.” The crowds were asking him to save them with the highest blessing of salvation, which they believed was deliverance from political oppression. But the greatest salvation is not from political oppression but the oppression of sin.

• Jesus’ rejection was necessary.  If Jesus provided temporal peace before redeeming our relationship with the Father, we would be unable to take part in God’s perfect kingdom.

• Our response to Jesus’ action must be two-fold:
  • Become witnesses of his glory (Luke 24:40-48)
  • Worship him (Luke 24:50-53)

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

• Who do you believe Jesus to be?  When someone mentions the name Jesus, what description first comes to your mind?  Is it an accurate reflection of his biblical majesty?
• Our response to Jesus’ ministry should be one of witness and worship.  What does your daily witnessing of Christ look like?  Your worship?

Discuss with your community group:

• What part of your life feels too chaotic to entrust it to Jesus?  Is there something that you haven’t handed over to him, something that you’ve told yourself is too big or important for him to handle?
• When we ask God for salvation, yelling “Hosanna in the highest, what do we tend to ask for salvation from?  Are we like the Israelites, confused by our affliction or do we understanding of our spiritual depravity?

Passages Referenced for Further Study
Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:39-40, Zechariah 9:8-10, John 10:17-18, Luke 18:31-33, Romans 8:28, Psalms 118:22-26, Luke 24:44-48, Luke 24:50-53