April 13, 2025

Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion (Sixth Sunday in Lent)

Sermon Text: Luke 19:28-40

 

Check out this picture to get a sense of the sort of view Jesus would have had coming down from the Mount of Olives. The building with the golden dome is a Muslim house of worship and is located near where the temple would have stood in Jesus' day.

On the significance of the fact that the donkey had never been ridden, see Numbers 19:2, Deuteronomy 21:3, and 1 Samuel 6:7.

 

1. The crowd praised God for Jesus because of all the miracles they had seen Jesus do (v. 37). What are some miracles you remember Jesus doing in his ministry up to this point?

 

2. Compare and contrast Luke’s account to the other three Gospel writers’ accounts. What might stand out to you?
   1. Matthew 21:1-11
   2. Mark 11:1-10
   3. John 12:12-15

 

3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement. Explain your position. “This crowd is made up of different kinds of people than the crowds who call for Jesus’ crucifixion.”

 

4. We could debate how much they really realized about Jesus as the Messiah, but for now, we simply highlight that they were engaging in some level of worship, at least of God the Father. What applications can we take from this take and use in our own worship life?

 

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1. The list is long. Here, we could highlight two from our sanctuary’s stained-glass windows—Jesus calming the sea and walking on water. But, we can also note two miracles that were very recent, relative to this royal entry – Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) and Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-43).

 

2. We can observe many similarities. We might also note how Luke’s account lacks the classic “hosanna” line but does add, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” That last phrase reminds us of what Luke records the angels signing at Jesus’ birth in Luke chapter 2.

 

3. It seems best to agree with that statement. Was there some crossover among individuals? Perhaps. But Luke very clearly calls these people “disciples.” And when you read the text of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, it seems most likely that in those early morning hours, the Jewish religious leaders probably were working with people they actually had influence over and were pro-Pharisee. Note how the Pharisees felt somewhat hamstrung to rebuke the Palm Sunday crowd themselves. So, while it makes for great rhetoric and powerful poetry to talk about the fickleness of the Jewish people / inhabitants of Jerusalem during Holy Week, it seems not the most accurate.

 

4. Answers will vary. But we could highlight how we have adopted the Palm Sunday “hosannas” into our Communion liturgy. We sing that shortly before our Lord comes to us in the humble means of bread and wine. Additionally, verse 38 is a direct quote from Psalm 118:26. We do well to use the psalms almost every week and to base our praises and prayers upon the very words of Scripture. Lastly, we note how joyful they are and how Christ is at the center. May our worship also be joyful and have Christ at the center.

 

5. Answers will vary. Ultimately, this account does make us think about how Jesus was so willingly humble to save us (cf. Philippians 2:5-11).