We have certain holidays in America that most people don’t really know why we celebrate.
For example, many people don’t know the difference between Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day.
A lot of us have no idea why we celebrate Labor Day.
Some of us know that there was a St. Patrick, but we don’t know why we have a day devoted to him.
The Canadians even have a day called “Boxing Day.”
Well, what about Palm Sunday? What is Palm Sunday? That’s the title of today’s message.
So, we’re going to look at the Bible to determine why we celebrate Palm Sunday.
Before we do, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to lead us.
(prayer)
We celebrate Palm Sunday because it offers us a few reminders.
Let’s look at those reminders now.
First, . . .
I. Palm Sunday reminds us of the triumphal entry of Jesus.
Now, some in this room may not know what the Triumphal Entry is. So, you have something you don’t know about reminding you of something else that you don’t know about.
Well, the Triumphal Entry refers to the time when Jesus came into Jerusalem the week leading up to His crucifixion.
The Triumphal Entry is one of the events of Jesus that is recorded in every single one of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Let’s read the account from Mark 11:1–10:
When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’ ” So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go. They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
What we see here in The Triumphal Entry of Jesus was in line with the kind of reception that kings would receive when they came into Jerusalem, particularly after a victory in war.
As the time grew closer and closer for the crucifixion of Jesus, more and more people started to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They believed Him to be the greatest king that Israel ever had, which of course, He was.
However, the people did not fully understand what kind of king Jesus would be.
Nevertheless, they welcomed Him by spreading clothes on the road (so He didn’t have to walk in dirt), and they honored Him by waving palm branches, which is why we use the name, “Palm Sunday.”
So, Jesus was welcomed as a king. Palm Sunday reminds us of the Triumphal Entry.
Second, . . .
II. Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus fulfilled prophecies.
The reason that people were anticipating the coming of Messiah is because it was prophesied that He would come.
The Old Testament is full of prophecies about the coming of the Messiah; the Christ; the Anointed One.
There are many prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.
Now, you might think that it’s a coincidence that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies. In fact, you might think that many people could have fulfilled these prophecies.
Well, Professor Peter Stoner once calculated the probability of one person fulfilling just eight of those prophecies.
He found that the probability of one person fulfilling those eight prophecies was 1 in 100 quadrillion. To help you understand that better, Professor Stoner said that 100 quadrillion could be represented by taking the state of Texas, and then placing silver dollars on every square inch of the state. Not only that, then you’d have to take those silver dollars and stack them two feet high. That’s how much 100 quadrillion would be.
Now, imagine that you stacked all those silver dollars up but marked one with your initials on it. Then, you stirred up the entire two feet pile of silver dollars from all over Texas, and you randomly picked out a silver dollar. You would have a chance of one in 100 quadrillion to pick out the silver dollar with your initials written on it.
You might say, “Well that’s virtually impossible that I could do that.” Indeed, you’re right It’s virtually impossible.
So also, it’s virtually impossible for Jesus to fulfill those eight prophecies just by chance.
Here’s what’s even more amazing. That was just eight prophecies. Most scholars believe that, in some part, Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies. That’s incredible, isn’t it?
Well, let’s look at one of those prophecies now.
Look at Zechariah 9:9. The prophet Zechariah prophesied this about the Messiah:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
You see, most kings would ride into Jerusalem victoriously riding a horse.
Not Jesus. As prophesied by Zechariah nearly 500 years before Jesus came to the earth, Jesus rode in humbly on a young donkey. He was righteous, victorious, and humble.
This moment was prophesied by the prophet Zechariah, and it was fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah.
Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus fulfilled prophecies. He was not just a man. He is the promised Messiah.
Finally, we see that . . .
III. Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus is the returning King.
Listen, brothers and sisters: Jesus is coming again.
In Acts 1:11, the angel said to the apostles, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
In Matthew 26:64, Jesus Himself said, “ . . . in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Philippians 3:20 says, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 9:28 says, “so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus is a picture of Jesus humbly coming into Jerusalem, as He was celebrated as king.
However, it also a picture that points to the future return of Jesus, when He comes quite powerfully, not on a donkey but on a white horse.
Listen to the words of Revelation 19:11–16
“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
Jesus came into Jerusalem and some acknowledged that He was king.
Jesus will come again into the world, and all will acknowledge His sovereign rule and power over all things.
Not only that, but He will rescue His own and take them with Him to glory to triumph over all things forevermore.
Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus is coming again.
That takes us nicely to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: Palm Sunday is a reminder that Jesus is King.
Palm Sunday commemorates the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem as they cried out, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
Hosanna means “Save us!” It’s an expression of praise to someone who can save you.
Jesus is King! He can save us! He has saved us! He is saving us! He will save us!
“The kingdom of David” remembers the rule of the greatest king Israel had every known: David. Jesus was from the line of David and Jesus is even greater than David was.
Jesus is truly the greatest King that the world has ever known. Indeed, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge: Invite someone to celebrate King Jesus.
We’re going to celebrate King Jesus next Sunday. Indeed, we celebrate King Jesus every Sunday.
Invite someone to join us next week to celebrate the King of Kings: King Jesus.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
(Benediction)
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.
