The text for this lesson is Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40.
Key Points
- Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem on His way to the cross so that our journey to heaven and life eternal would be made certain.
- Law: Because of my sin, Jesus had to suffer and die.
- Gospel: Because of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, my sin is no more, and I will live in heaven with Him forever.
Discussion Points
- What does Jesus know that the crowd doesn’t know and that even the disciples don’t quite understand yet?
- What kind of king were the people expecting?
- What will Jesus’ death accomplish?
- Why is this Journey with Jesus so important for us?
- How was this prophecy of Zechariah fulfilled in Jesus, the Savior, and written about in Mark and Luke?
- What is the significance of the colt never having been ridden?
- Why does the church call the day of Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem, Palm Sunday?
- Why do you think the people waved palm branches and laid their cloaks on the road before Jesus?
- What other time in the Bible did a king ride a mule on the way to his enthronement?
- What’s the significance of this happening at the time of the Passover in Jerusalem?
- What is the Passover?
- What does Hosanna mean? Where do these words that the people shouted come from?
- Why were the shouts of the people appropriate for Jesus’ entry even if their full significance wasn’t recognized until later? How was the humility of Jesus shown in this incident? How did Jesus fulfill Zechariah 9:9?
- How does this passage connect with both the liturgy for Palm Sunday and the closing portion of the Sanctus from the Divine Service: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”?
- What did some of those who shouted hosannas on Palm Sunday say on Good Friday? When does the same thing happen today?
