The King Who Comes: Palm Sunday and the Cross

Jesus rides into Jerusalem not by accident but by divine design—an orchestrated, humble, and revealing act that exposes the true question every life must answer: who is Jesus? The entry on a colt, the laying down of cloaks and branches, and the crowd’s shout of “Hosanna” all point to kingship, yet the scene forces a deeper confrontation about what kind of king Jesus is. He controls every detail, fulfills prophecy, and deliberately declares his identity so that people cannot shrug and remain undecided. The crowd’s acclaim is both accurate and incomplete: they name the Messiah but expect a political liberator who meets their ambitions, while Jesus embodies a paradoxical kingship of humility, service, and substitution.

That paradox—king by right who chooses the cross—cuts against common instincts: to make Jesus a moral teacher, a personal fixer, or an ally for worldly success. Such half-measures cannot hold because Jesus never invited mild approval; his claims demand an all-or-nothing response. He confronts religious leaders who fear Rome and crowds who misread prophecy, confounds the curious, and calls the nominal to abandon cozy compromise. The gospel’s knot ties a royal ruler to a suffering servant: the king who will ultimately destroy evil is the same king who first bears human weakness and guilt to redeem his people.

This entry therefore functions as both revelation and invitation. Jesus reveals his kingship so that hearts may be exposed; he invites wholehearted allegiance so that lives might be transformed. The true rescue he offers is not a tidy fix for convenience or status, but a substitutionary exchange—he leaves his throne to bear the burden of sin so that rebellious subjects might be brought near. The promised coming of the conquering King in final victory is secure precisely because the King already came in humility. The final question remains personal and urgent: will each person give full allegiance to the one who reigns and saves?

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus is the king who controls Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is carefully orchestrated: every detail points to his sovereignty and intentionality. This control is not mere showmanship but the declaration that history is centered on him, not chance. Recognizing his lordship reshapes how events, suffering, and salvation are interpreted. [13:01]
• 2. No neutral response to Jesus Encountering Jesus never produces mild indifference; his claims force choices—adoration, rejection, or terror—because his identity disallows comfortable middle ground. A nominal faith that tames Jesus into being useful or pleasant is inadequate; genuine discipleship requires decisive allegiance. This is not coercion but truth laid bare, demanding an honest heart-response. [31:23]
• 3. King who conquers by service The messianic paradox is clear: the conquering King chooses a donkey and the cross rather than warhorses and triumphal power. Salvation is accomplished through sacrifice, not mere political victory, because the deepest bondage is self-enthronement. The king’s condescension reveals that deliverance is substitutionary and relational. [55:13]
• 4. Hosanna often hides self-enthronement Shouts for “save us” can mask the real plea: save our plans, status, and comforts rather than our souls. When prayer centers personal control—health, success, favor—it exposes a heart still seated on the throne it should surrender. True Hosanna is not about getting God to serve arrangements but giving oneself to the King who serves and saves. [51:58]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Opening and logistics
• [01:19] - Prayer for teaching
• [03:00] - Purpose: studying the final week
• [04:03] - Why the final week matters
• [10:33] - Reading: Matthew 21 (Triumphal Entry)
• [11:25] - The crowd’s acclamation: “Hosanna”
• [13:01] - The king who controls
• [16:08] - Sovereign, not a victim
• [19:36] - Purpose of the triumphal entry
• [23:38] - Confrontation and the rocks’ witness
• [31:23] - No moderate reaction possible
• [37:32] - The crowd’s muddled faith
• [43:09] - Messiah: glory and suffering combined
• [55:13] - The king who saves by sacrifice
• [57:24] - Condescension: throne exchanged for cross
• [59:50] - The coming King and hope
• [63:40] - Closing prayer and invitation

1. According to verses 2-3, how specific were Jesus’ instructions to the disciples regarding the donkey, and what reason were they told to give if anyone asked what they were doing?
2. The sermon emphasized that Jesus was not a victim of circumstances but was fully in charge of these events. How does the preparation described in the passage support the idea that Jesus is the "king who controls"? [13:01]
3. What specific actions did the crowds take in verses 8-9 to welcome Jesus, and what specific titles did they shout out while doing so?
4. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was "stirred up" and asked a specific question. What was that question, and how did the crowds answer it in verse 11?

1. Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a warhorse. Based on the sermon’s discussion of the prophecy in Zechariah 9, what was Jesus communicating about the specific type of kingdom he was bringing? [48:17]
2. The crowds were shouting "Hosanna," which means "save us." The sermon suggests that while their words were accurate, their expectations were wrong. What kind of "saving" were the crowds hoping for, and how did that differ from the salvation Jesus actually came to bring? [42:19]
3. The sermon argues that there is no such thing as a "moderate reaction" to Jesus—people either hate him, fear him, or adore him. Why does Jesus' claim to be an absolute King make it impossible to just "mildly approve" of him or view him merely as a good moral teacher? [32:19]
4. The essence of sin is described as "self-enthronement," where we put ourselves in the place of the King. How does the image of Jesus "condescending" (coming down) to ride a beast of burden illustrate the "great exchange" necessary for our salvation? [56:04]

1. We often view the events of the cross as a tragedy where Jesus was victimized. However, Jesus orchestrated his entry to Jerusalem knowing exactly what it would cost him. How does knowing that Jesus was fully in control—even when things looked weak or chaotic—change how you view the difficult or chaotic circumstances in your own life? [19:36]
2. It is easy to want a God who deals with our situations rather than a God who deals with us. The crowds wanted a political fix, not a heart fix. When you pray "Hosanna" (save/help me), are you usually asking God to save your plans, comfort, and status, or are you asking him to save you from your own sin? [51:58]
3. A "nominal" or half-hearted faith tries to keep Jesus as a useful consultant—someone we call on for help but who doesn't run the show. In what specific areas of your life (finances, relationships, career) are you tempted to keep Jesus as an advisor rather than crowning him as absolute King? [33:09]
4. Jesus confronts us with the reality that we cannot just "like" him; we must decide if he is Lord. If you were to look honestly at your schedule and your priorities from this past week, how would they answer the question: "Who is this Jesus to you?" [27:12]
5. The King who will one day return on a white horse to judge evil is the same King who first came on a donkey to bear the judgment for us. How does seeing Jesus’ willingness to "quit" his throne to be with you impact your ability to trust him with your future? [01:02:25]