The big idea
It doesn’t matter if you’re the life of the party or a wallflower, celebrations can be infectious. You get caught up in the moment. You are at wedding lunging for the bouquet. Your team wins the grand final and you are partying in the street. The cake comes out at a birthday and singing at the top of your lungs. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment of celebration.
At the first Palm Sunday the city of Jerusalem we celebrating the coming of Jesus. They understood the importance of the moment but not the true significance. They expected a warrior king but Jesus came to clean and renew, to make a change in our lives and point our hearts to God.
Key Scriptures
Matthew 21:1-19
As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”
4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,[a]
‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.’”[b]
6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.[c]
8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God[d] for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”[e]
10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.
11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus Clears the Temple
12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”[f]
14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. 15 The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”
But the leaders were indignant. 16 They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’[g]” 17 Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry,19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up
Next Steps
- Is he triumphant in your life?
The closer you get to Easter, the more you see the depth of God’s love, how much he has done for you. When you grasp hold of it you realise Easter should change the way you live. Will you let him have triumphant entry into your heart?
Jesus has come to clean and renew. To clean you from our sin and renew your relationship with God.
He has come to clean and renew. In this first Palm Sunday he starts with Jerusalem and he continues into your life today. Give him entry into your heart.
- Are there barriers in your way?
Jesus has cleared all the barriers to get to know God. Sacrifice, observances, people, judgement and condemnation. There is no barrier between you and God, not excuses.
Today there is no barrier between you and God except for the ones you erect. Guilt, shame, hate, unforgiveness. It’s time to dismantle them and give them over to his love. Let him clean and renew your heart.
- Are you bearing fruit?
God wants you to bear fruit in your life, not to be like the joyless religious people in this story who twist the things of God to serve themselves. God wants you to bear fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
- Are you sharing your fruit?
Your fruit isn’t to be horded, it’s to be shared. Tell someone about the change Jesus has made in your life.
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