Sermon Notes

Introduction

Today is recognised as Palm Sunday, the commencement of Passion Week, when the events of this historic week, recorded in the Bible, would transform the course of human history. It all started with God in human flesh making his entrance into Jerusalem, not on a war horse, a private jet, a sports car or a limousine, but simply on a humble donkey. The prophet Zechariah prophesied this would take place, and right before the eyes of a large crowd, religious leaders and Jesus’ own disciples, he was greeted with various shouts and expressions that teach us a lot about the identity and person of Jesus Christ.

In a 1929 interview, Einstein stated, “No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life”. – Albert Einstein.

The Situation – Word on the street about Jesus? ~ Matt 16:13-16

• Five chapters before Palm Sunday, Jesus asked the disciples a very important question about his identity. – “Who do people say the Son of Man is?
• Jesus Christ is widely considered the most famous person of all time, with an estimated 45 billion people throughout human history aware of his existence.

Application

Just like the word on the street in Jesus’ day, even today, many people know of Jesus and may have assumptions about Jesus,

The problem: There’s a difference between knowing about Jesus & knowing Jesus personally.

• The religious leaders knew about Jesus.
• The crowds knew about Jesus.
• All of Jerusalem had heard of Jesus.
• Even today, Jesus is the most recognised name in history.
• But here’s the real question: Who is Jesus to you? What do you say about Him?

Application

Although it’s not conclusive to determine whether the same crowd on Palm Sunday would later demand that Jesus be crucified, there was clearly a major shift in the perception of Jesus in Jerusalem. What kind of relationship do we have with Jesus? Is it based on truth or fleeting emotions? There’s a difference between knowing of Jesus and knowing him personally, backed by truth and personal experience.

The solution & celebration – There is a difference between noise and truth ~ Matt 21:9

• Each shout of praise is charged with powerful insight and truth about the nature and identity of Jesus.

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the son of David!” – identifying Jesus through the Hebraic lineage of King David, as a Jewish messiah and King. God fulfilled his promise to David that his throne would be established forever.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” – identifying Jesus as more than just a Jewish man but one who shares the same divinity as the One true God of Israel.

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” – identifying Jesus as the supreme one of distinct power and authority that is recognised not just in Jerusalem but in heaven, earth, and below the earth.

Application

To Einstein, Jesus was a nice, inspirational figure to read about. Elon Musk once stated on Twitter that he believes in the principles of Christianity. Other faiths believe Jesus to be a good man or a credible prophet, but for those who trust in Jesus for salvation, like the crowd on Palm Sunday, we must testify that Jesus Christ.

1. Truly came in the flesh/100% Human – as a genuine human miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary
2. Truly the Son of God/100% God – Divine and with God from the very beginning, according to John chapter 1. In his own words, “if you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:9) “I and the Father are One” (John 10:30)
3. Truly the only one who can save – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” – Acts 4:12

Discussion Questions

1. What ways might we misunderstand or misinterpret who Jesus is—like the crowd did?
2. Jesus chose a donkey rather than a horse that symbolises power and authority. What can we learn about the humble approach from Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem? How can we serve without desiring to be seen?
3. How would you encourage someone who is struggling to believe Jesus is truly divine and the Son of God but respects him as a good example and even follows his teachings?
4. How does the crowd respond in verses 8–9? What does “Hosanna” mean? (see Psalm 118:25–26)
5. Read Romans 10:9–10. What does it mean to truly confess Jesus as King
6. Read Luke 9:23. What does it practically mean to follow Jesus as King in daily life?