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Arrival in Jerusalem
2025 Theme: Faithfulness
Series Title: Trust the Plan
Scripture: John 12:12-19
April 13th, 2025

Something to think about:

As we continue our series today entitled “Trust the Plan,” we come to Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem for the Passover. Though He enters the city as a king with great fanfare and excitement, in less than a week, He will be forced to leave the city as a criminal to be crucified in shame. Though Jesus had explained his imminent death multiple times up to this point, there was still a tremendous lack of awareness by the disciples and the crowds as to what was going to happen. Jesus, the King of kings, would not be like other kings who rule with physical strength and power; rather, He would enter the city on a donkey as a symbol of peace and the kingdom He was bringing into the world. Let’s take a closer look:

Key Point: “GOD’s Kingdom operates on His terms and not on human expectations.”

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a story of contrasts. Let’s consider the following:

· ______________ branches, not ______________.

John 12:12-13 (NLT), 12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”

· A _______________, not a ______________.

John 12:14-15 (NLT), 14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
riding on a donkey’s colt.”

· A ______________, but of a different ______________.

John 12:16 (NLT), His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Something to take home:

In The Avengers (directed by Joss Whedon [Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2012]), Loki terrorizes a crowd after having publicly killed a man. He demands that everyone kneel before him and honor him as their ruler. A valiant old man stands up and says, “Not to men like you.” This powerful moment shows the exact opposite of how Jesus shows up. He is the humble King riding on a donkey. The people can’t help but erupt in praise. When the leaders try to stop it, Jesus tells them that the rocks will cry out if the people don’t. We do need a King, but the King we need is Jesus. And the terms of his kingdom might be very different from what we expect. Serving him means relinquishing our expectations into his hands.[1]

Our ability to comprehend the very nature of GOD as witnessed through Christ is directly tied to our willingness to let go of all personal expectations of what we think He should be, and see Him for who He really is.


[1] Source Unknown.

Read John 12:12-19.

After leaving Bethany, Jesus and the disciples traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.Upon His entry into the city, large crowds lined the streets having heard of His coming, and they were shouting praise to Jesus as the King of Israel.Why do you think the people were so excited about Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem?

How did Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy (read Zechariah 9:9)?

When did the disciples realize that Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of prophecy (v. 16)?Why do you think they didn’t realize it at the time?

What impact did Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead have on the crowds in Jerusalem?

What was the Pharisees’ reaction?

What would your reaction have been that day?

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