Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a colt reveals his kingship marked by humility and purpose, inviting us to recognize God’s gentle yet powerful presence in our lives. Even the smallest and seemingly insignificant things—a borrowed colt, a simple act of obedience—are used by God for His greater plan. We are reminded that no matter how unworthy or overlooked we may feel, God sees us as useful and valuable for His kingdom. The Lord has a purpose for each of us, and our worth in His eyes never expires. [37:53]
Luke 19:28-40 (ESV) And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel insignificant or unworthy, and how might God be inviting you to offer even those parts to Him for His purpose today?
Day 2: Praising God in All Circumstances
The crowd joyfully praised God for Jesus’ mighty deeds, and we too are called to praise God with our lives, not just in moments of celebration but in every circumstance. Our praise is not limited to words or songs but is expressed through our actions, our gratitude, and our willingness to let our lives reflect God’s goodness. Whether in times of joy or challenge, we are invited to lift our voices and hearts in thanksgiving, trusting that God is at work in and through us. [39:42]
Acts 10:38 (ESV) …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Reflection: What is one specific way you can praise God with your actions today, regardless of your current circumstances?
Day 3: God’s Presence in Suffering and Doubt
In moments of deep pain and confusion, when we echo the psalmist’s cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” we are reminded that God welcomes our honest prayers and meets us in our suffering. Even when answers seem far away and rest eludes us, God is not absent; He is present in our groaning and our questions. We are invited to bring our raw emotions before God, trusting that He hears us and holds us through every season of grief and uncertainty. [44:07]
Psalm 22:1-2 (ESV) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Reflection: What pain or doubt do you need to honestly bring before God today, trusting that He hears and cares for you?
Day 4: Assurance That Our Redeemer Lives
Even in the midst of suffering, we can hold onto the unshakable hope that our Redeemer lives and will stand with us through every trial. Like Job, who endured unimaginable loss and pain, we are invited to declare our faith in God’s enduring presence and ultimate victory. This assurance does not remove our struggles, but it anchors us in the promise that God is working for our redemption and will never abandon us, no matter how dark the valley. [46:36]
Job 19:25 (ESV) For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to declare, “I know my Redeemer lives,” and how can this truth give you hope today?
Day 5: God Is With Us—In Celebration and in Suffering
Whether we are walking through a palm-strewn path of celebration or the shadowed valley of suffering, God promises to be with us, comforting and guiding us every step of the way. We are never alone, for God’s presence surrounds us in both joy and pain, offering us courage and peace. As we journey through life’s ups and downs, we can rest in the assurance that God’s rod and staff will comfort us, and His love will never fail us. [48:21]
Psalm 23:4 (ESV) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Reflection: How can you intentionally seek and rest in God’s presence today, whether you are in a season of celebration or a time of hardship?
Sermon Summary
Today’s reflection centers on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, a moment filled with both celebration and the shadow of suffering. As Jesus rode into the city on a humble colt, the crowds greeted him with shouts of “Hosanna,” laying down their cloaks and palm branches in honor. This scene is a powerful reminder that God often chooses the humble and the ordinary—like the colt—to fulfill divine purposes. No matter how insignificant we may feel, each of us is useful and precious in God’s sight.
The story also invites us to consider our own participation in God’s work. Just as the people found ways to be part of the celebration, we are called to make a difference wherever we are, letting our unique contributions count in our communities. Our lives, in all their complexity, are meant to be offerings of praise to God—not just in moments of joy, but also in times of pain and uncertainty.
Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem was marked by mixed emotions. He was surrounded by celebration, yet he knew that suffering and betrayal awaited him. This tension between joy and sorrow is something we all experience. Life brings both palms of celebration and crosses of suffering. In the midst of these, Jesus models for us a deep trust in God’s presence. Even when the crowd’s cheers would soon turn to cries of “Crucify him,” Jesus moved forward, knowing that God was with him.
We, too, face seasons where joy and pain intermingle. Whether we are celebrating or grieving, God’s promise remains: we are never alone. The assurance that “our Redeemer lives” gives us hope to endure suffering and courage to rejoice. God’s presence is steadfast, whether we walk through valleys of shadow or dance in moments of triumph. In every circumstance, we are invited to bring our whole selves before God—our praise, our pain, our questions, and our hope—trusting that God will never leave us nor forsake us.
Key Takeaways
1. God values the humble and the ordinary, using even a colt to carry out divine plans. No matter how small or unworthy we may feel, our lives have purpose and meaning in God’s eyes. Our usefulness to God never expires, and we are always invited to participate in God’s work. [37:53]
2. We are called to actively participate in God’s unfolding story, making a difference wherever we are. Like the crowd that celebrated Jesus, our unique contributions—no matter how simple—can be acts of worship and service that bless our communities and honor God. [38:57]
3. Life is often a mixture of joy and sorrow, celebration and suffering. Jesus himself experienced this tension as he entered Jerusalem, knowing both the adoration of the crowd and the pain that awaited him. Our faith does not remove suffering, but it gives us the courage to face it honestly, trusting that God is present in both the palms and the crosses of our lives. [41:31]
4. In moments of deep pain and loss, it is natural to feel abandoned or overwhelmed, echoing the psalmist’s cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yet even in these valleys, we are reminded that God’s presence is steadfast. Our questions and grief are not signs of weak faith, but honest expressions that God welcomes and meets with compassion. [43:45]
5. God’s promise is not that we will be spared from hardship, but that we will never be alone in it. Whether we are in a season of celebration or walking through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us, offering comfort, hope, and the assurance that our Redeemer lives. This enduring presence is our anchor and our peace. [48:21]
In Luke 19:28-40, what instructions does Jesus give to his disciples about the colt, and how do the owners respond?
What actions do the crowd take as Jesus enters Jerusalem, and what do they shout?
According to the sermon, what does the use of a humble colt in Jesus’ entry symbolize about God’s ways? [[37:53]]
In Psalm 22:1-2, what emotions does the psalmist express, and how does this connect to Jesus’ experience as described in the sermon? [[43:45]]
Interpretation Questions
Why might Jesus have chosen to ride into Jerusalem on a colt instead of a horse or in a more “kingly” way? What message does this send about God’s values? [[37:53]]
The crowd’s shouts of “Hosanna” quickly turn to “Crucify him” within a few days. What does this reveal about the nature of public opinion and the challenges Jesus faced? [[41:08]]
The sermon mentions that Jesus experienced both celebration and the knowledge of coming suffering. How does this tension reflect the reality of our own lives? [[41:31]]
When the psalmist cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” how does this honest expression of pain fit into a life of faith? [[43:45]]
Application Questions
The sermon says that God uses the humble and the ordinary, like the colt, to fulfill divine purposes. Is there an area in your life where you feel “too ordinary” or “not good enough” to be used by God? What might it look like to offer that part of yourself to God this week? [[37:53]]
The people in the story found ways to participate in the celebration, even if it was just laying down a cloak or waving a branch. What is one simple, practical way you can make a difference in your community or church this month? [[38:57]]
The sermon talks about life being a mix of “palms of celebration” and “crosses of suffering.” Can you share a recent experience where you felt both joy and pain at the same time? How did you sense God’s presence in that moment? [[41:31]]
When have you felt like the psalmist, wondering if God was far away? What helped you hold onto faith during that time? [[43:45]]
The promise is not that we will be spared from hardship, but that we will never be alone. Is there a current challenge where you need to be reminded of God’s presence? How can the group support you in this? [[48:21]]
The sermon encourages us to bring our whole selves—praise, pain, questions, and hope—before God. Is there something you’ve been holding back from God that you want to bring to Him in prayer this week? [[50:24]]
Think about someone in your life who might be going through a “valley of shadow.” What is one way you can offer comfort or hope to them, as a reflection of God’s presence? [[48:21]]
Sermon Clips
Jesus Christ ministered for about 3 years in his life about 2,000 years ago to the people of his time, the Jewish people and the people around. He had a great ministry touching everybody's life, healing the sick, raising the dead, driving out demonic spirit, and doing many miraculous things, including multiplying food to feed the hungry. Jesus's ministry touched many life and made difference in the community. His ministry could be summed up in Acts 10:38. Jesus went about doing good. Jesus went about doing good. I like the songwriter who wrote some children's songs saying, "Everywhere he went, he was doing good. Almighty healer, he healed the lepers." [00:35:39]
When the cripples saw him, they started walking. Everywhere he went, my Lord was doing good. Jesus's ministry could be summed up in this Sunday school song. According to the gospel reading today, Jesus's last entry to Jerusalem became a royal procession with the king surrounded by the crowd with palm branches and leaves, rejoicing and praising God and shouting out. And they were giving glory to God. He was sitting on a donkey. First Jesus's disciples went to the village nearby page and Bethany as Jesus instructed them to take a donkey from there and they said to the person who asked them why the Lord needs it. [00:36:47]
That is the first thing that comes up here. The fact that even a small donkey was useful to our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us that we are always useful in the sight of God. We are always worthy in the sight of God. We are God's people and our usefulness never expires. Please listen to me. You may be feeling a little unworthy and thinking your life is becoming meaningless. But I'm here to remind all of us that the Lord has a purpose for all of us because we are useful to God. [00:37:50]
The second thing that comes up out of the story is that when they brought the donkey, all the people around found ways to be part of what God was doing to celebrate Jesus. As people of God, wherever we are, we have been invited to go make a difference and let our differences count in the community in which we are. We are invited to celebrate wherever we are. We go, we make a difference and our differences count. [00:38:39]
The third thing that I want to lift up here especially in Luke chapter 19 verse 37 is the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in a loud voice saying blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord peace on earth and glory in the highest heaven. They praise God for all the mighty deeds that Jesus did. And we as God's people are invited to praise God with our life, with all that we do, with all that we have. We are invited to praise God. [00:39:22]
Jesus was excited to see that day coming with people surrounding and cheering with little children crying on the street and screaming on the street rejoicing. Jesus was excited as God was given the glory. However, being God in human form, Jesus also knew that something else was awaiting him. He knew that in few days he is going to be betrayed, arrested. In few days the people chanting hallelujah, hosana will be shouting crucify him, crucify him. He knew that. [00:40:14]
He knew that that the celebration that is calling hosana save us now will turn out very soon to be crucify him. Jesus might be feeling like the little child in the library nited when he was approaching Jerusalem. He was excited yet he knew the cross, the pain and the difficulties that was coming. The pain and suffering of bearing the sin of all humanity that caused him to cringe and to say, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Sometime we too we feel the same. [00:41:05]
I remember about 13 years ago, I walk alongside a young couple going through difficult times concerning their son, Kinsel. Kinsel was about to turn two. He was born as a brew baby with a hole in his heart. And before he turned two, he had a terrible a terrible medical condition that sent him to sus hospital. The family went there, they called and as a friend, I was able to go there, pray with them and stand with them. It was not easy. It was not easy because he passed out over there and he passed to glory. [00:42:15]
The boy's suffering caused the parents more pain and struggles that they didn't know what to do. They loved their son. They wanted him to be relieved, but they were grieving the fact that their little boy was slipping away slowly from their hands into eternity. The emotions were much too much painful and overwhelming for the young couples to handle. I remember being by their side in sickest hospital and feeling overwhelmed with pain and suffering for this boy. [00:42:58]
The words of the psalmist in Psalm 22 verse 1 and 2 came into mind. And the psalist says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me from the works from the words of my groaning? Oh my God, I cry by day. But you do not answer me and by night I find no rest. These words were lingering in my head. Even for months, a few months after the boy passed, it was so hard that we couldn't celebrate the second anniversary of our first baby." [00:43:45]
We have to stay silent because we couldn't even mention she's turning to because of the pain we went through for Jesus. Was it a palm of celebration or a cross of suffering? While the people were celebrating in Jesus's royal procession, singing hosana, hosana, Jesus could see not only the palm, but also the passion. Jesus could see the cross, the symbol of pain, torture, humiliation, death right in the midst of the celebration. He could not only hear hosana, he could also hear crucify him. Crucify him. [00:44:53]
I would like to ask us all is it a palm of celebration that is going on in your life or is it a cross of suffering that you are facing now? Is life a possession with palm or a difficulty, humiliation, suffering and challenges like that of a cross. Jesus went through both lives of palm and of the cross. In the midst of all these, he knew one thing. He knew that God was with him. In the words of Job in Job 19:2, when Job was going through the pain and the struggles and the afflictions of life, he said, "I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand on the earth." [00:45:41]
I know. Yes, it's painful. Yes, it's torturing. Yes, my heart is breaking apart and my skin is wasting away, but I know my redeemer lives. A young minister was in a car driving with his little sister north of Berry and it was a blizzard winter. And in the midst of the blizzard winter, the car broke down and this young minister was so disappointed and so worried and sat there sobbing and frustrated. Then his little sister came along and said, "Hello, brother. Cheer up." [00:46:44]
Jesus never promised that our car will never break down in the midst of blazard winter, but Jesus promised to be always with us. So cheer up. Later the minister shared this story in his preaching with us at school and it was so powerful. that Jesus never promised that we will not go through the pain and the struggles and the furnace of fire. But one thing Jesus promised us that regardless of all that we go through whether it is a procession with harm or a cross of affliction, health issue and challenges, God is with us. [00:47:20]
The psalmist in Psalm 23:4 put it this way. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for God is with me. His rod, his staff, they comfort me. Friends, God is with us. Whether it's a palm of celebration or a cross of affliction, pain and death, God will never leave us. To Jesus, the people shouted, "Hosana." The love of God is with us to save us now from all that we go through. [00:48:11]
Whether he save us to come to this side of heaven or to the other side of heaven, God will still be with us and he will never leave us. He has promised and will never fail. We are not alone in the difficulties we face. God is with us. God will deliver us and God will show us his salvation. For we know that our redeemer lives and our savior is with us. Is it a cross or a palm? Whatever it is with your children, with your family, with your workplace, Canadians, whatever it is, God is with us. [00:48:54]
We sometimes get mixed emotions. We are feeling excited but scared. Sometime we feel angry but happy. Sometime we are nervous but excited and the list could go on and on. [00:35:08]
Jesus could see the cross, the symbol of pain, torture, humiliation, death right in the midst of the celebration. He could not only hear hosana, he could also hear crucify him. Crucify him. I would like to ask us all is it a palm of celebration that is going on in your life or is it a cross of suffering that you are facing now? Is life a possession with palm or a difficulty, humiliation, suffering and challenges like that of a cross. [00:45:13]
Jesus went through both lives of palm and of the cross. In the midst of all these, he knew one thing. He knew that God was with him. In the words of Job in Job 19:2, when Job was going through the pain and the struggles and the afflictions of life, he said, "I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand on the earth. I know." [00:46:13]
Yes, it's painful. Yes, it's torturing. Yes, my heart is breaking apart and my skin is wasting away, but I know my redeemer lives. A young minister was in a car driving with his little sister north of Berry and it was a blizzard winter. And in the midst of the blizzard winter, the car broke down and this young minister was so disappointed and so worried and sat there sobbing and frustrated. [00:46:44]
Then his little sister came along and said, "Hello, brother. Cheer up." Jesus never promised that our car will never break down in the midst of blazard winter, but Jesus promised to be always with us. So cheer up. Later the minister shared this story in his preaching with us at school and it was so powerful. that Jesus never promised that we will not go through the pain and the struggles and the furnace of fire. [00:47:32]
But one thing Jesus promised us that regardless of all that we go through whether it is a procession with harm or a cross of affliction, health issue and challenges, God is with us. The psalmist in Psalm 23:4 put it this way. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for God is with me. His rod, his staff, they comfort me. Friends, God is with us. Whether it's a palm of celebration or a cross of affliction, pain and death, God will never leave us. [00:47:56]
To Jesus, the people shouted, "Hosana." The love of God is with us to save us now from all that we go through. Whether he save us to come to this side of heaven or to the other side of heaven, God will still be with us and he will never leave us. He has promised and will never fail. We are not alone in the difficulties we face. God is with us. God will deliver us and God will show us his salvation. For we know that our redeemer lives and our savior is with us. [00:48:36]