Devotion / Family Worship Guides

Sunday: The King Enters Jerusalem

by Michael Johnson

Directions: Tailor this guide to fit your personal or family devotions. The goal is not to get through all of the passages and questions!  The goal is to spend time in God’s Word and in worshiping Him.  Choose from the passages and questions below.  Add your own questions.  Have fun!!  If you are leading others, you will want to read through the worship guide in advance to prepare. 

Sunday: The King Enters Jerusalem

A. Read Scripture:  Read one or more of the following passages and discuss the questions below.

Possible Passages: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-18; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-36

Discussion Questions:

1. What is significant about Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? 

Jesus gives careful instructions to his disciples to bring him a donkey.  Yet, Jesus was a walker. We never read anywhere in the gospels of him riding an animal, except here.  He’s covered hundreds and hundreds of miles over rough terrain during his life & ministry.  Now He’s two miles away from Jerusalem.  Why the sudden need to ride on a donkey?  It’s not because he can’t physically walk the two miles.  This is a deliberate choice.  Jesus is intentionally and clearly communicating His kingship.  Jesus is the Savior King predicted in the Old Testament (Zech 9:9). Jesus chooses to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey to declare his kingship. 

2. Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.” How is the King described? What does Zechariah say to do?

3. How do the crowds respond to Jesus as He enters?  What do they shout?  The crowds are joyfully proclaiming Jesus King.  Though they don’t fully understand his mission.

Kings rode donkeys, but only in times of peace.  This is the mount of someone who comes to bring peace… not war.  This king comes to save people not slaughter them.  And this salvation is for all people.  Zechariah 9:10 says this king “speaks peace to the nations” and “his rule” extends to “the ends of the earth.”  Verse 11 says “As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.”  The “waterless pit” was a dry well that could be used as a jail – like Joseph’s brothers did to him (Gen 37:24; cf. Jer 38:6).  And because of the blood of God’s covenant the prisoners will be set free from bondage!  What an awesome picture of what Jesus came to do in freeing us from bondage to sin and death!

Zechariah 9:16 goes on to say the Lord will save the flock of his people and they will be like jewels of a crown!  Jesus is the Good Shepherd who willingly lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:18).  Through Jesus we become God’s treasured possession! For those with eyes to see, Jesus is making a statement about who He is and what he came to do.  By coming on a donkey’s colt he’s showing he is this humble king who brings salvation.  He is the Messianic King, who triumphs over God’s enemies and brings peace.  Which he would do in a matter of days when he shed his blood on the cross to save us from sin & death and to reconcile us to God! 

4. How do the religious leaders respond to Jesus?  How does Jesus respond to them?

5. “Behold your king is coming to you…”  You personally!  Since Jesus is our King, how should we respond to Him? 

6. There is a battle for the kingship of your life. Will you be king? Or will Christ?  What area of your life needs to be brought under the reign of King Jesus?   

Jesus is the Savior King.  We cannot serve two masters.  There can only be one king in our lives.  Jesus is a better King of your life than you are.  He’s a far better king than you could ever be for yourself.  Why not welcome him, worship him, and walk with him?   

Summary:  The Passover celebration reminded them of deliverance from Egypt.  Now with the coming of the Messianic King, the crowds only saw a new deliverance for Israel from its political enemies.  They couldn’t see the need for Jesus’ suffering and death, nor the inclusion of the nations in the people of God.  Even though the prophets pointed in both these directions. The salvation Christ brought was not what people expected.  This Messianic King was about to triumph over the enemies of God’s people, but it wasn’t a political or military victory.  Jesus was about to triumph through his death and resurrection over sin, death, and the devil.  He’s not the political savior they wanted.  He’s the spiritual one they desperately needed. Just like we do!

B. Singing:  Consider one or more of the following songs.

C. Prayer:  Use the Scriptures to guide your prayers of praise and petition. 

Jesus, we rejoice in you, our King, who comes in the name of the Lord!  Praise you for being righteous and bringing salvation!  Lord, we confess the ways we have rebelled against your rightful rule.  Please forgive us.  We pray that you would advance your rule as King in our hearts.  Enable us to willingly and joyfully obey you.  We pray that your kingdom would advance in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and in the world.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.