Jesus Is Greater Than Our Expectations — Palm Sunday

Mar 29, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: God's presence is with us in every moment.

We can find profound comfort in the truth that God is always with us. He has promised never to leave or forsake His children. This enduring presence is our source of strength and peace, whether we are celebrating a victory or walking through a season of tears. We can offer every part of our lives to Him in gratitude, trusting that He is with us through it all. [15:46]

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5b, NIV)

Reflection: As you reflect on your past week, where have you most keenly felt God's faithful presence with you, and how did that awareness impact your response to your circumstances?

Day 2: Jesus surpasses our every expectation.

Our human expectations are often limited and shortsighted, but what we receive from Christ is always greater. He consistently defies our small dreams and plans with His infinitely better purposes. Even in difficult seasons that are not what we anticipated, God is at work teaching us and shaping us. We can trust that His ways and His outcomes are always superior to our own. [18:05]

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV)

Reflection: Can you recall a specific time when God’s plan for a situation turned out to be far better than what you had originally hoped or expected?

Day 3: Jesus fulfills all roles as Prophet, Priest, and King.

Human understanding often tries to reduce Jesus to a single role that fits our personal preferences or needs. Yet, the fullness of who He is encompasses the prophetic voice of truth, the priestly work of reconciliation, and the kingly authority over all creation. He is the complete fulfillment of God’s promises, not a partial figure we can neatly categorize. Embracing all of who He is allows us to know Him more deeply. [28:18]

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:11, NIV)

Reflection: Which aspect of Jesus’ identity—Prophet, Priest, or King—do you find yourself most naturally drawn to, and which one might you need to explore and embrace more fully in your current walk with Him?

Day 4: Our foundation must be Christ’s love, not our assumptions.

It is easy to project our own ideas and biases onto Jesus, believing we know exactly how He would act in every situation. This often leads to actions and words that do not reflect His true character. The core of His being is love, and this must be the foundation from which all our thoughts, speech, and actions flow. Holding our concepts of Jesus loosely allows us to be surprised by His greater wisdom and grace. [33:28]

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2, NIV)

Reflection: In what recent conversation or decision have you noticed your own assumptions at work, and how might starting from a foundation of Christ’s love have changed your approach?

Day 5: We are called to share the message of hope.

The good news of what Jesus has done is too wonderful to keep to ourselves. Our primary purpose is to love God and love people, and a fundamental way we love people is by sharing this hope with them. This requires praying for those who do not yet know Jesus and asking for wisdom and courage to represent Him well. We are invited to partner with God in His work of transforming lives. [37:09]

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV)

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that God is placing on your heart to pray for this week, and what is one gentle, respectful way you could share the reason for your hope with them?

Sermon Summary

Jesus rides into Jerusalem amid shouts of “Hosanna,” and the crowd’s expectations collide with a deeper reality. The colt fulfills Zechariah’s prophecy and signals a king who rejects conventional power; Jesus arrives not as a war commander but as one who will confront sin and death. The narrative emphasizes how the crowd’s nationalistic hopes for a political liberator miss the fuller scope of Messiahship: Jesus embodies prophet, priest, and king—teaching, bearing sin, and ruling the true kingdom. Matthew’s portrait ties Old Testament hopes together, showing that the promised one performs all eschatological functions.

The scene exposes human tendency to narrow Jesus into a single role, then hold tightly to that partial image. That narrowing shows up repeatedly—celebration quickly turns to condemnation when expectations remain unmet. The text challenges believers to loosen grip on preconceived notions and to begin with love as the governing posture. Love, not partisan certainty or selective doctrine, must shape words and actions toward others.

The narrative presses toward repentance and mission: the crowd’s misunderstanding becomes a mirror for contemporary faith communities that at times elevate one aspect of Jesus while neglecting others. The response to that diagnosis moves beyond critique into practice—prayer for clarity about Jesus, intercession for those who do not yet know him, and a request for wisdom, creativity, and courage to share the gospel. Community life appears too: a child dedication models covenantal support and the church’s call to pray, teach, and protect the young.

Announcements and worship tie the theology to rhythms of communal life—Good Friday remembrance, Easter celebration, baptisms, and giving that funds mission. The week’s trajectory from palms to cross and resurrection frames a gospel that subverts expectations and offers a transforming hope. The final benediction sends the congregation into the world with peace, exhorting strength for the fainthearted, help for the needy, and an ethic of honoring all people.

Key Takeaways

1. God's gifts exceed human expectations Human imagination constrains the divine, but experience of Christ often reveals gifts beyond calculation—comforts, corrections, and callings that surprise. Expectation narrows encounter; openness permits transformation. Let unmet expectations become openings for noticing how grace rearranges life. [16:57]
2. The Messiah overturns worldly expectations Messianic hope in the text subverts political triumphalism: humility, not militarism, defines the arrival of God’s rule. The colt signals a kingdom that wins by service, suffering, and restorative love rather than force. Reimagining power in this way reshapes communal priorities and how justice gets pursued. [21:34]
3. Jesus is prophet, priest, and king Scripture presents a composite Messiah who teaches truth, mediates redemption, and exercises sovereign care; no single role contains him. Balancing these functions prevents theological reductionism and cultivates practices—listening, repentance, and stewardship—that reflect whole-hearted devotion. Integrating all three roles guides faithful discipleship in messy contexts. [27:05]
4. Love must frame every faithful action Love supplies the hermeneutic and motive for all Christian activity; doctrinal certainty without love produces distortion. Holding beliefs with a looser hand frees generosity, invites humility, and protects against weaponizing theology. Prioritizing love reshapes speech, policy, and mission toward restoration rather than exclusion. [32:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:54] - Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
[15:59] - Teaching Intro: Online Orders and Expectations
[16:57] - Jesus Surpasses Expectations
[20:22] - Zechariah's Prophecy Fulfilled
[21:34] - Donkey as a Sign of Humility
[23:01] - Conquering Sin, Not Rome
[27:05] - Messiah: Prophet, Priest, and King
[32:12] - Love at the Core of Faith
[36:27] - Three Prayer Challenges
[42:40] - Child Dedication and Community Vows
[48:46] - Easter Plans and Announcements
[50:20] - Benediction and Sending Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Matthew 21:1-11 (NIV)
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Observation questions

According to the passage, what specific animal did Jesus instruct his disciples to find for his entry into Jerusalem?
What two actions did the crowd take to honor Jesus as he rode into the city?
What were the people shouting as Jesus entered Jerusalem, and what title did they use for him?
The sermon mentioned that the palms were a "nationalistic symbol of revolt and rebellion" [24:35]. How does this historical context add a layer of meaning to the crowd's actions?

Interpretation questions

The prophecy from Zechariah 9:9, which Matthew references, describes a king as "righteous and victorious" yet "lowly and riding on a donkey." How can a king be both victorious and lowly at the same time? What does this reveal about the nature of Jesus' kingdom?
The crowd identified Jesus as "the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Why is it significant that they called him a prophet in this moment, and how does that label fall short of his full identity?
The sermon states that the people were "expecting Jesus to raise up this army to come in and conquer the Romans to free them, but he didn’t come in to conquer the Romans. He came in to conquer sin and death." [22:10] Why would conquering sin and death be a greater liberation than a political revolution?
How does the immediate context of the crowd's celebration, which soon turned to calls for crucifixion, illustrate the danger of holding a narrow or incomplete view of who Jesus is?

Application questions

The idea that "anything we receive from Jesus is always greater than what we expect" [16:57] was a key point. Can you share a time when God did something in your life that was completely different, and ultimately better, than what you had asked for or expected?
It's common to focus on one aspect of Jesus' character, like his role as a teacher, a healer, or a king. Which aspect of Jesus do you find yourself most naturally drawn to, and which aspect might you be prone to neglect or downplay?
The foundation for all our actions and speech must be love [33:28]. What is one practical situation you are facing this week where choosing a response of love would be a clear but perhaps difficult alternative to reacting with frustration, judgment, or certainty?
The challenge was given to pray for someone you know who doesn't know Jesus yet [36:27]. Who is that person for you right now, and what is one simple, loving step you could take this week to show them God's care?
The child dedication served as a reminder of our communal responsibility to support one another [43:12]. Beyond our immediate families, who is one person in our church community you could intentionally encourage or pray for this week?
Holding our concepts of how Jesus would act "a little looser" [32:55] requires humility. Is there a strongly held opinion or belief you have about a current issue that you need to hold more loosely, inviting Jesus to surprise you with his greater perspective?

Sermon Clips

34s

#ForgivenAndLoved

“He traveled through the crowds knowing that days later, they would be shouting, crucify him. And all of it just culminates in that moment of him on that cross. Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing. I am so glad because I don't always know what I'm doing either, and I'm so glad for his grace and his love. And that is the example we get to follow because we were in darkness, and God loves us too much to leave us there.”

20s

#FromDarknessToLight

“So he came up with a solution the moment we invited sin into this world, and we have all sinned, broken what God created. And God put a plan in motion, Jesus. And we now have an opportunity to leave the darkness and step into the light, which signifies a life of purpose, of hope, a transformed life.”

27s

#SpiritualKingdom

“In the days that followed, as he was nailed to that cross, as he died and rose again, he defeated sin and death. Because he didn't come to set up a physical kingdom that would eventually pass away. He came to set up a spiritual one to expand God's kingdom, and then we get the joy and the privilege to partner with him to see it continue to grow as we share our story of how Jesus has influenced, impacted, and changed our lives as we give our life to him.”

39s

#ExpectMoreFromJesus

“I'm here to say that anything we receive from Jesus is always greater than what we expect, and he is so much greater. And so we have to make sure that we hold on to our concept of Jesus not tightly in a way that we think we have it figured out. But we hold on to Jesus, but on the idea of who he is and how he would act in a situation and what we should do, we need to recognize maybe we need to hold on to that a little looser than we think.”

35s

#ProphetPriestKing

“See, they were looking for a king, they were looking for a prophet, and they were looking for a priest. But Matthew, the writer of the passage that we're looking at today, you see, he helps us see that the true messiah, the son of David, that Jesus fulfills all of these old testament prophecies. See, the hope and expectations of the Jews was perhaps for one, but he fulfilled them all. See, he performed the eschatological functions of a prophet, as one commentator put it, priest and king.”

38s

#PurposeBeyondRebellion

“And here once again, the people were expecting another rebellion. But that wasn't what they got because what they expected and what they received, you see, what they received was so much greater. See, Jesus knows their nationalistic ambitions, but he didn't stop them. He knew that the course of this week was going to bring ultimately his death, and that it must be done to fulfill those prophecies, to fulfill his role as our messiah to defeat sin, to defeat death.”

34s

#SeeJesusWhole

“We understand who our messiah is. 100%. I got this. I got it figured out. This is the way it is. However, you don't have to go too far to see how that falls short because Jesus is always so much greater than anything we can come up with. And we forget about looking at Jesus as a whole as opposed to focusing in on one particular piece, on one particular part of his character or how he handled this situation.”

39s

#LoveAtTheCore

“This is what I love about as you look at the life of Jesus. It it just feels like you have to go deep. In fact, I don't think it feels like I think it's true. You just have to go deep and realize that love is at the core of it all. And if we don't start at that part, sometimes we start making up things that Jesus would do, things that how Jesus would act in situation a, b, c, d, and we realize that we're wrong.”

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