For most everyone right now, life isn’t going as planned. We may never understand what God is doing in these world events, but we can trust Him and find comfort in knowing who Jesus is.

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KEY VERSES

Matthew 21:1-11 (NASB)

The Triumphal Entry

21 When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold your King is coming to you,
Gentle, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David;
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest!”

10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

UNDERSTANDING

• What was the significance of the city of Jerusalem in Israel’s spiritual and political life?

• What authority and power are revealed in the directions Jesus gave His disciples?

• Why does it matter that Jesus arranged these preparations Himself?

• What does the term “Lord” teach us about how Jesus saw Himself and how His disciples received His directions?

• Matthew cited from Zechariah 9:9 to support what occurred in verses 1-3. What does Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy reveal about Him?

• Read 2 Corinthians 1:20. What light did Paul shed on Jesus’ prophetic fulfillment?

• What statement did Jesus make by riding into Jerusalem on a young donkey? What did it reveal about His nature and purpose on earth? How did that separate Him from other rulers?

• Take a minute to read Matthew 20:30-32. Here, just prior to His entry, Jesus did not rebuke

  the blind men for proclaiming His identity as Messiah, or “son of David.” What did this indicate about the change that would occur in the openness of the people’s testimonies about Jesus following His entry?

• How did the crowd receive King Jesus?

• Read Psalm 118:25-26. What was the purpose of this psalm? Why is it fitting to use on this occasion?

• The cry “Hosanna” means, “save us.” Yet at the end of the week, the crowd would be yelling something entirely different. What does this teach you about the fickle nature of your own heart?

• What was behind the people’s question in verse 10? How do you know? How can we see the change in the temperature of the city already happening?

APPLICATION

• All the details we see in today’s passage, along with the rest of Scripture, are meant to show you who Jesus is. What is the difference between responding to the Jesus who is and responding to a Jesus of your own making?

• What did the people indicate about their own view of and response to Jesus by laying down their coats and waving palms or branches along His path? What can you do in your own life right now, in these present circumstances, to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3)?

• In this week’s message, you learned that Jesus is the King of Peace, worthy of your praise, and a King who gives purpose. Are you struggling right now to experience Him in any of those three ways? Explain. If so, what are some steps you can take to begin walking in His peace, praise, and purpose?

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