Palm Sunday – From rejoicing to discipleship
Series: Simple. Quiet. Present. | Bible text: Matthew 21:1–11
Jesus enters Jerusalem as the promised king – not with power and pomp, but humbly on a donkey, quite unlike what was expected. The people cheer him on, but do not recognise that his path does not lead to the throne, but to the cross. This area of tension shows how much human ideas can deviate from God’s plan. And yet this is precisely where the fulfilment of God’s promise and the salvation of the world begins.
«[…] Praise be to God for the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in the highest heaven!» (Matthew 21:9 NLB). Today it’s about why Jesus doesn’t fulfil our expectations.
The Lord needs it
The Palm Sunday story we have just heard is the only part of Jesus» life that looks splendid. He comes to Jerusalem to conquer and die! In this first sermon point, we want to look at the first part of Matthew 21:1–3. Jesus gives the order to fetch the donkey and the colt.
In this incident, Jesus Christ refers to various Old Testament prophecies. The donkey is a sign of peaceful prosperity. The blessing that Jacob gives his sons contains a messianic promise. This has to do with a donkey and a colt: «He will tie his foal to the vine, the foal of his donkey to the grapevine. He will wash his garment in wine, his robe in the blood of grapes» (Genesis 49:11 NLB). Here it is figuratively demonstrated that there is an abundance of wine! Otherwise the grapes and wine would not be handled in this way. So when Jesus orders a donkey and a colt for himself, such images always resonate for the people of the time.
This is a special commission. What should his disciples do if someone objects? «[…] The Lord needs them […]» (Matthew 21:3 NLB). That is all. But it’s easy to just read over it. There is so much in this partial verse! Firstly, it tells us that God needs earthly things to fulfil his plan. Jesus, the Lord of creation, needs animals. The donkeys are included in the walk to the cross as representatives of creation – just as on Good Friday the solar eclipse and an earthquake express the grief of creation. «For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life» (John 3:16 NLB). Jesus came because God loved the cosmos (the world) so much. The walk to the cross is for the whole of creation.
It also tells us that God needs something – and this then serves to honour him! What am I prepared to give to God when He says: «The Lord needs it»? I have heard of someone who deals with part of his finances in this way: he has not firmly planned part of what he gives to God, but keeps it ready until he has the impression that God says: «The Lord needs it» – and then he gives it.
Jesus on the foal
In the second part of the Palm Sunday story, the two disciples carry out their mission and bring the two donkeys to Jesus (Matthew 21:4–7). Several people then threw their coats on the colts. Here Jesus refers to a promise of the prophet Zechariah. «Rejoice aloud, you people of Zion! Rejoice, you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Behold, your king comes to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble and rides on an ass – yes, on the foal of an ass, the boy of an ass» (Zechariah 9:9 NLB). According to the general Jewish view, this refers to the Messiah. The Messiah is the expected saviour of Israel, who will be sent by God. When I say «joy reigns», it is clear to many where I am starting from – as is the case here! Jesus is coming as the Messiah! This claim lies in the way he will ride into Jerusalem according to Zechariah 9. He comes as the Messiah, but in a different way than expected. He approaches with peaceful intentions. Jesus even had to borrow a donkey to ride into Jerusalem. It is promised about this Messiah that he is just, victorious and humble. Humble could also be translated as «miserable» or «poor». «You know the great love and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Although he was rich, he became poor for your sake, so that through his poverty he might make you rich» (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLB).
The entry of Jesus takes place without worldly pomp, but full of spiritual power! If the people did not rejoice, the stones would (Luke 19:40)! Jesus did not take a symbol of power (horse) and yet he testifies that he is king! In passing, verse 6 says that everything happened just as Jesus had said it would. This is one of many confirmations of Jesus by the Father. Jesus was a true prophet (Deuteronomy 18:21–22). The people now do more than is expected. They put their coats on the colt. They often only had one coat – and they gave it. So they gave everything. Jesus affirms this honour. In the past, he resisted when the people wanted to make him king (John 6:15). Gerhard Maier writes in his commentary on Matthew: «Through this behaviour, he affirmed that he is the Messiah. There has never been an unmessianic Jesus» (Gerhard Maier). Jesus knew what he was doing! The events around Easter are no coincidence!
The Son of David enters Jerusalem
The last section of today’s sermon text is about Jesus entering Jerusalem with rejoicing (Matthew 21:8–11). A critical minority doubted his Messiahship. «Some of the Pharisees in the crowd challenged him: Master, call your disciples to their senses!» (Luke 19:39 NLB). However, Jesus continues to make his claim clear and thus puts himself at the mercy of people. He is later condemned to death on the charge of blasphemy (Matthew 26:64–65).
Jesus enters Jerusalem in celebration. The people were moved by him and shouted: «Hosanna» – praise be to God! This comes from Psalm 118:25 and refers to a cry for help that was increasingly used as praise. It means something like: God shall accomplish the salvation and deliverance of Israel. «Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!» This phrase is found in all four Gospels and goes back to Psalm 118:26. This verse is clearly interpreted by rabbis (Jewish scholars) as referring to the Messianic redemption.
This jubilation leads to the question of who this Jesus is. The preaching and healing Jesus is replaced by the royal and openly messianic Jesus riding in. A double tension arises here. The first tension concerns the jubilant crowd – because opposite them is a critical group of people who are ready for anything. The second tension concerns the rejoicing crowd itself. For they are expecting a completely different Messiah. They are expecting a Messiah who will ascend the royal throne and not the cross.
So what does this marvellous but also surprising entry into Jerusalem tell us? Above all, it shows the disparity between our expectations and God’s response! People will be disappointed. Followers of Jesus will also be disappointed – with their misconceptions. But – and this is a BIG BUT – the disappointment only affects the surface. Jesus» entry into Jerusalem is the dawn of redemption. In a song that I often hear at the moment, it says about Easter: «Watch Him work all things together like He said He would». Translated analogously: «See how he puts everything together, just as he promised!» Palm Sunday is the prelude to how God brings everything together as he has promised!
If we do not derive our wishes and ideas from God, then we will inevitably be disappointed by God. Where were all the people on Good Friday who were still rejoicing on Palm Sunday? I don’t know, I can only assume that some were disappointed that he did not set up his kingdom according to their expectations. It is therefore important to start with him. If we expect earthly riches from him, we will be disappointed – but we will find true treasure in him. If we expect to succeed in everything through him, we will be disappointed – but in him we will experience complete acceptance. If we think that through him we will have no more difficulties, we will be disappointed – but with him we will ultimately overcome everything. If we think that through him we will be free from all illness, we will be disappointed – but with him we will overcome death!
Finally, I would like to come back to the «mantle» of today. This is our time and our attention. Our theme for the year «Simple. Quiet. Present.» attracts on the one hand, but repels on the other. Instead of simply, we want more. Silence confronts us with our inner emptiness. In the present, we would prefer to be in other places. Yet our attention is our most important asset. What you give time and attention to is your God!
A heartfelt invitation to be lavish with your time and attention towards God next week – during the «PRAY2026 week». A heartfelt invitation to encounter God and worship him – in silence or in community. To come to rest and let him guide your ideas.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: Matthew 21:1–11
- Where do you experience a tension in your life between your expectations of Jesus and how he actually acts?
- What does it mean to you in concrete terms that Jesus comes as King humbly on a donkey – and not with power and pomp?
- «The Lord needs it» – what could God specifically «need» from you today (time, attention, resources, abilities)?
- The people cheered Jesus, but did not understand his way. Where is the danger that we celebrate Jesus but misunderstand him at the same time?
- What false expectations of God could be preventing you (consciously or unconsciously) from truly recognising him?
- Today, the «coat» stands for time and attention: How do you recognise what your «God» really is in your everyday life?
- How can you practically «waste» your time for God in the coming week (e.g. as part of the PRAY2026 week)?
