April 13, 2025

Luke 19:28-48

The Return of the King

Sunday Sermons

Why have Christians observed Palm Sunday each year for the past 2,000 years? Why is it often called the “Triumphal Entry”? And why did Jesus choose to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey?

Some misunderstood what Jesus was doing that day—and many still do. Some expected a political liberator. Others rejected or ignored Him altogether. A few even tried to silence Him and His followers. And yet, millions throughout history have come to believe in Jesus and have found new life in His name. How is that possible? Can that happen for anyone?

Join Pastor Jim as he takes us back to that first Palm Sunday to explore what actually happened, what it meant then, and what it still means for us today.

Speaker

Jim Thomas

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Scripture

Luke 19:28-48

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Sermon Notes

Luke 19:28-48

The Return of the King

Pastor Jim Thomas

Christ has died
Christ is risen
Christ will come again

The Gospels in Perspective

  • The four Gospels together contain 89 chapters in our English Bibles.
  • Only 4 chapters cover the first 30 years of Jesus’ earthly life.
  • The remaining 85 chapters focus on His 3.5-year public ministry—His teaching, miracles, and mission.

Out of those, 29 chapters focus on the final week of His life—what we call Passion Week:

  • The Triumphal Entry
  • The cleansing of the temple
  • His teachings in Jerusalem
  • The Last Supper
  • His betrayal, arrest, trials, scourging and crucifixion
  • His burial and glorious resurrection

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus is recorded in:

  • Matthew 21:1–11
  • Mark 11:1–11
  • Luke 19:28–48
  • John 12:12–19

1. The Return of the King Was Deliberate

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Zechariah 9:9

Notable Old Testament Messianic Prophecies

  • Genesis 3:15 – The promised seed who would crush the serpent’s head
  • Genesis 12:3 – A descendant of Abraham through whom all nations would be blessed
  • Genesis 49:10 – A ruler from the line of Judah
  • Deuteronomy 18:15 – A prophet like Moses
  • Isaiah 7:14 – A child born of a virgin
  • Isaiah 53 – The suffering servant who bears our sins
  • Zechariah 9:9 – A humble King bringing salvation, riding on a donkey

2. The Return of the King Was Dramatic

“The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of man—and the dogma is the drama.”
Dorothy Sayers, Letters to a Diminished Church

3. The Return of the King Demanded a Response

  • The crowds celebrated His coming with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!”
  • The disciples were emboldened—if only temporarily
  • The religious leaders tried to silence Him
  • The Romans largely ignored Him—at least for the moment

“In Jesus we find infinite majesty yet complete humility, perfect justice yet boundless grace, absolute sovereignty yet utter submission, all-sufficiency in himself yet entire trust and dependence on God”
Tim Keller, King’s Cross

“Here is a King who conquers not by force of arms, but by the force of love.”
John Stott, The Cross of Christ

“Jesus came the first time, and he is coming again, as the king over all kings. King of Israel, king of all the nations, king of nature and the universe. Until he comes again, there is a day of amnesty and forgiveness and patience. He still rides a donkey and not yet a white war-horse with a rod of iron. He is ready to save all who receive him as Savior and Treasure and King. Come to him. Know him. Receive him. Live your life in allegiance to him.”
John Piper

Discussion Questions

  • What were the three things that Pastor Jim said accompany “The Return of the King.”
  • Why do you think Jesus told people not to tell anyone about the miracles He performed before the triumphal entry?
  • What was Jesus’ statement in the triumphal entry passage?
  • What did it communicate that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey? Why did He not ride on a war-horse as Revelation describes?
  • What is the reason the leaders couldn’t silence Jesus at this time?
  • Which response to Jesus do you honestly most identify with? Do you have people in your life who react in some of these ways?
    • The crowds who celebrated His coming with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!”
    • The disciples who were emboldened- if only temporarily
    • The religious leaders who tried to silence Him
    • The Romans who largely Ignored him- at least for the moment
  • What were the three things that describe the stance the donkey and his owner had towards Jesus? Do you strive to be this way, or do you know anyone like this in your own life?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“We Will Feast in the House of Zion“ by Sandra McCracken
“Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery“ by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker and Matt Papa
“I Need Thee Every Hour“ by Annie Sherwood Hawks and Robert Lowry
“Lift High The Name“  by Ed Cash, Fionan DeBarra, Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty
 “Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois

All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690

Call To Worship: Palm Sunday, from Psalm 24

Leader: Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Congregation: Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.

Leader: Lift up your heads, O you gates; Lift them up, you ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.
Congregation: Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.

All: HOSANNA, HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Confession: Jesus, Who is Worthy

Leader: Why do we call Jesus our Lord?
People: Because he has ransomed us, body and soul, from all our sins, not with silver or gold but with his precious blood, and has freed us from all the power of the devil to make us his own possession.

Leader: What does God grant in our new life in Christ?
People: God grants us reconciliation with him, forgiveness of our sins, union with him in Christ, adoption into his family, citizenship in his kingdom, new life in the Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life.

All: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Source: Heidelberg Catechism, Question 34; ACNA, Question 15; Revelation 5:12

Classic Prayer: Ambrose, 339-397 AD

Take away this heart of stone from me, and give me a heart of flesh and blood, a heart to love and adore you, a heart which may delight in you, love you and please you, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

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