Picture this…you are at Razorback stadium on a Saturday anxiously awaiting the start of
the football game. You hear the announcer say, “Hey all you razorback fans…let’s stand
up and CALL THOSE HOGS!” Together in unison, close to 75,000 people stand up and
shout, “Wooooo pig sooie, woooooooooo pig sooie, woooooooooo pig sooie…Razorbacks!”
Immediately the hogs run through the tunnel and out onto the field. You, as a Razorback
fan, are in awe. You are filled with excitement, joy, and anxiousness about what is to
come. If you get these feelings at a football game, imagine what you would have felt the
day Christ entered into Jerusalem! As he entered, a large crowd proclaimed “Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”
Imagine what you might have felt on that day.
Read Matthew 21:1-11 and answer the following questions.
In verse 3, what was the reaction of the donkey owner to Jesus? What does this
tell us?
We hear the word Hosanna often within worship songs and scripture.
“Hosanna” simply means “God save!” What does this phrase have to do with
Jesus?
What do people need to be saved from? How was Jesus gong to offer salvation
to people?
In verse 4, we see that this event took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet
claiming “your King is coming to you.” We also see in verse 11 that the crowds
proclaimed Jesus as a prophet. Moses predicted this coming way back in the book of
Deuteronomy. Let’s take a look at these two prophetic passages and gain a deeper
understanding of the significance of the Entry.
Read Zechariah 9:9 and answer the following questions:
Compare this passage of scripture to Matthew 21:5. What are some similarities
you see? List them.
We saw in the lesson on the birth of Christ that Jesus entered the world humbly.
We see the word humble used in both of these verses. What does it mean to be
humble?
Have you ever met someone who is humble? What stood out about them?
Are there any areas in your life where you lack humility? What are they?
And the crowds proclaimed “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the Highest!” And yet, Israel did not go on to recognize Jesus as their
rightful King. Although He received an honorable welcome, neither the people nor the
religious leaders of Israel were ready to accept this humble man as the one to rule over
them. Although He rode in to Jerusalem on the prophesied day and in the prophesied
way, they couldn't see it. Their hearts were hardened, and they were just a week away
from having Him put to death on the cross.
Answer the following questions:
Why would they have rejected Him?
What reasons do people give today for rejecting Jesus?
Let’s end on this question this week…How can we proclaim His name? In our family,
with our friends, and in our schools? Take some time to pray that His name would be
exalted this week and that we will stand in awe of who He is… the Messiah… our
Savior… our rightful and true King.