Topical Children’s Lesson: Palm Sunday – Matthew 21:1-11
This is still happening online because of the current mandate for isolation for the C-19 pandemic.
As I, Daniel, am preaching for Palm Sunday, my lovely other-half, Caitlin – who is our Children’s Director at the Church Next Door – recorded a related lesson! Therefore, instead of my wonky mug, you can see her lovely face this week!
So, gather up the kiddos (or enjoy this at any age), and enjoy the collab between a youth pastor and children’s director:
Questions to consider:
Have you had to change your thinking about something? Think of a time you thought you knew what your parents or your friends were doing, but you were wrong.
Even when you have been wrong, did your family still love you? Did you change your mind or make different choices when you found out the truth?
Palm Sunday – Matthew 21:1-11
Jesus is the Son of God, God’s only Son by birth.
He was coming to save us from our sin, but how did the people see Him?
On the first Palm Sunday, when the people laid down palm branches for this king they had been expecting, they had no idea what his real mission was.
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
They saw:
- A king coming to change the government
- A leader kicking out the bad army
- A prophet, a person who speaks God’s word, making God’s house great again.
Look at verse 11 (read again), here comes Jesus, the one everyone is calling the Savior of Israel! Finally! Here is a great prophet and king like Moses or David! He will save us!
The people expected Jesus to change the government, kick out the bad army, and make Israel God’s country, again. He did kick out the businesses selling in the Temple. And He corrected the teachers for teaching the Bible wrong.
And then Jesus, knowing what the people expected of Him, did something unexpected. He was arrested, beaten up, and killed on a cross.
They did not understand that Jesus had to save us from our sins before He stopped all the bad guys.
Remember, Jesus took everyone’s punishment for sin by giving His life, and He gives us righteousness. That does not mean he will remove all of our problems now, but He will provide the solution.
And Jesus our Prophet, speaking the word of God, did promise that His first triumphal entry into Jerusalem was not His last. He is coming back to change the world and stop all of the bad things from happening forever. And we will be with Him forever on a new Earth.
Today is Palm Sunday, everyone, and our King is coming!
Memory verse:
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Revelation 22:20
