Palm Sunday // From Praise Him to Crucify Him in Four Days

Matthew 21:1-3 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.” 

Matthew 21:6 NIV 

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 

1. The end of the race is when we get our reward. So keep obeying Jesus. 

Luke 19:35-38 NIV 

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the Highest!” 

John 12:13 NIV 

13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 

John 12:17-18 NIV 

17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 

Zechariah 9:9 NIV 

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

Luke 19:41-42a NIV 

41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, 

Matthew 23:37 NIV 

37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 

Luke 19:42b-44 NIV 

42…“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” 

2. The end of the race is when we get our reward. So keep believing Jesus. 

Matthew 21:10-11 NIV 

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.” 

3. The end of the race is when we get our reward. So keep serving Jesus. 

Matthew 27:22 NIV 

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 

Questions: 

1. Have you ever had a season in your life when you felt sure God was leading you in a certain direction, but it didn’t make sense “in the natural mind” to you? What did you do and what was the result? 

2. We know God will “make all things right” in the end of time, judging evil and rewarding the faithful. But we also know there are many blessings on our journey with Him now. What are some blessings you’ve experienced? 

3. What are some safeguards we can have in place to keep us strong and faithful when we’re obeying God’s call and non-believers are against us?