The One We've Been Waiting For (Mt. 21:1-11)
Hear
Good morning, BCC on this beautiful Palm Sunday!
I’m so excited to share God’s word with you on this holy day.
That’s right, today is Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. This is seven days before the pivotal event of the resurrection of Christ. His power over the grave has led to the transformation of a countless mass of converts.
As we read the story of what has come to be referred to as Jesus’ Triumphal Entry, we should do so with great humility. Because we have this account written down and bound for us to read at leisure, we can often approach the writings of Scripture with great familiarity. Too much familiarity can cause us to miss the wonder and awe that is tucked beneath the ink that stains our pages.
What is Palm Sunday?
What would it have meant for those who first witnessed Jesus on that day?
What treasures does it hold for us now?
Well, grab your Bibles and open them to the twenty-first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew and let’s see what we can discover.
The Triumphal Entry
Matthew 21:1–11 NKJV
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tellthe daughter of Zion,‘Behold, your King is coming to you,Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Promised (Zeph. 3:19-20)
We can read the details of this event in all four Gospels. It’s one of few events shared by all the Gospel writers (Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:29–38; John 12:12–15).
If we were to lay the four accounts side by side, we would see largely consistent details with a few differences. However, the main point is still evident, Jesus is the One we’ve been waiting for.
Before we get in too deep, let’s back up and see how we have arrived at this point.
As we well know, Israel had been under great oppression for centuries. And as a result, there was always this lingering promise from Yahweh that He would one day free them from their oppressors. Every generation of God’s people had this hope in mind and the Jews still cling to this promise today.
By the mouth of the prophet Zephaniah, Yahweh declares,
Zephaniah 3:19–20 NKJV
19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the Lord.
Rich Robinson, a Messianic Jew, and senior researcher on the Bible, Jesus, and Jewish culture explains the Jewish Orthodox position on the Messiah.
In traditional Jewish teaching represented today especially by Orthodox Judaism, the Messiah would in the first place be human. The Christian idea that the Messiah would be both human and divine is considered unacceptable and un-Jewish. He could even be superhuman, but never divine. He would be a warrior and a victorious conqueror of Israel’s enemies, someone in the mold of the Maccabees of the Hanukkah story.
Second, the Messiah would have a series of tasks to accomplish. He would gather all Jews from around the world to Israel; he would destroy Israel’s foes; he would rebuild the Temple.[1]
This restorative justice was the longing of Israel at the time of the events of Palm Sunday and it remains to be so to this day.
Yahweh made many attempts to encourage His people to trust in Him for deliverance rather than trusting in “...treatises, alliances, compromises, or submission to pagan rulers….”[2] Yet they had not listened. So, once again, in the pages of the Gospels, they found themselves under oppressive leadership.
At the time of the events regarding the Triumphal Entry of Jesus, this promise of deliverance remained yet to be seen. Rome was in total control of the world and the foot of Rome was on the neck of the Jews.
Galatians 4:4 NKJV
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son...
Determined (Lk. 9:51)
From the time that He was a boy, Jesus had made the trip to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Passover. But the trip on Palm Sunday was different. Unlike in previous travels, where He had come to worship, this time, He came to offer Himself as the One to be worshiped.
The events leading up to Palm Sunday are helpful in understanding its significance in the lives of those first century witnesses and us today.
Luke 9:51 NKJV
51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
Legendary football coach and namesake for the Super Bowl trophy - Vince Lombardi - is credited with one of my favorite quotes ever.
“If you’re early, you’re on time; If you’re on time, you’re late; If you’re late, don’t bother showing up.”[3]
Timing matters and for a God Who exists outside of time - surprisingly - timing is critical. He’s never late. He’s always on time. Even when it appears that we are being taken under by the storms of life, if we will trust Him, He’ll save us when we begin to sink like Peter out on the water (Mt. 14:30-31). Even though it may seem like all hope is gone and even if He is delayed a few days, like when Lazarus died, He’ll show up at just the right time and restore us to life (Jn. 11:38-44).
If we will trust God and allow Him to work things out in our lives at the appointed time which He has set in mind, then we will surely witness a miraculous work.
The prophet Habakkuk says, “Though the vision tarry; wait for it!” (Hab. 2:3)
So, at just the right time, Jesus resolutely set His face toward Jerusalem.
The words steadfastly (NKJV) and resolutely (NIV) means that Jesus was determined. From the time the Father ordained it, Jesus’ mind was completely made up: He would go to Jerusalem, and nothing would stop Him.
The Samaritans had refused to grant Him safe passage through Samaria, which was the faster route, but not even their rejection of Jesus could thwart the plans of God. He was undeterred in His mission, even though it meant that He would have to go around the long way.
Some of you have been waiting on the Lord to show up in your life, in the life of your family. You have been watching and praying, and you think God has abandoned you, when the truth is that He’s taking the long way. Don’t lose hope! He’s on His way!
Testified (Jn. 12:9-11)
It is likely that Jesus visited the home of Lazarus in Bethany before setting off for Jerusalem again. The Apostle John tells us that the Triumphal Entry took place on the “next day” (Jn. 12:12), meaning that it happened the day after the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus for going around testifying that Jesus had given him his life back. Lazarus’ testimony would eventually lead to the conversion of many Jews as they placed their faith in Jesus.
John 12:9–11 NKJV
9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also,
11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
Lazarus had been dead for four days, but at this point he was very much alive and he began to use his new life to glorify Jesus for the work He had done in raising him up again.
Testimony is power!
We would not be here today if someone had not testified to the miraculous work of God in their own lives. How many of you can trace your own salvation stories back to someone else’s salvation story? How many of you have found hope in God during the troubling times of your own lives because of the hope others had in Him during their trials?
Your testimony is what God uses to draw others to Himself. Think of the woman at the well.
John 4:39 NKJV
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”
John 4:41 NKJV
41 And many more believed because of His own word.
Testimony is what He uses to give us hope as we journey through the darkness of this world.
The story of God’s work in your life is a powerful weapon in the fight against spiritual darkness and opposition to the Person of Jesus. So use it!
Revelation 12:11 NKJV
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Don’t be afraid to share the stories of God’s redeeming love at work in your life with those around you.
Testimony is power!
Arrived (Matt. 21:1-11)
Earlier in John’s account, after Jesus had fed the multitude with two fish and five loaves of bread, they were so impressed by His abilities that they wanted to crown Him king right on the spot.
John 6:15 NKJV
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Well, when He comes riding into town on the back of a donkey, the probable assumption is that He has finally come to overthrow the government and free Jews from the tyranny of Rome, but they were so wrong. The nation was looking for a warlord of sorts, a commander-in-chief, someone with both political and military prowess who would use power, might, and brute force to put the nation of Israel on top once again.
Israel is not unique in this regard. Every nation longs for this type of power and control. It’s how we protect our own interests.
The Jews had the wrong idea about Jesus. And in many ways, so do we. They also had the wrong idea about what they needed to be freed from. And we are not that different.
Let’s hear again what Matthew records about the Triumphal Entry.
Matthew 21:1–11 NKJV
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tellthe daughter of Zion,‘Behold, your King is coming to you,Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
I find this verse interesting. Matthew makes it sound as though this multitude was just a random group of onlookers who got excited about what they saw and what they believed to be the fulfillment of prophecy. However, that’s not the case. Luke’s Gospel is extremely helpful in explaining who the multitude was.
Luke 19:37 NKJV
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
So the ones laying out their clothes and palm branches are men and women who have heard His teachings, experienced His power, been touched by His compassion, and have committed themselves to following Him.
Matthew 21:9 NKJV
9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
But John tells us that His disciples didn’t really understand what was happening until after His resurrection a week later.
John 12:16 NKJV
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
This adds context to Matthew 21:10-11.
Matthew 21:10–11 NKJV
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
The testimony of Matthew is crucial for the Jewish audience. He ties these events to the timeless words of Israel’s prophets as an accomplishment of what was spoken centuries earlier.
Roughly 500 years before Jesus shows up on that Sunday, the prophet Zechariah wrote these words,
Zechariah 9:9 NKJV
9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Nearly, 700 years before Jesus, the prophet Isaiah encouraged the hearts of God’s people by stating,
Isaiah 62:11 NKJV
11 Indeed the Lord has proclaimed To the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.’ ”
Anglican priest and New Testament scholar, R. T. France, sees in this Triumphal Entry, a connection to the life of King David. In his commentary he writes,
While the route over the Mount of Olives was the normal route from the east, Jesus’ use of the donkey at that point may also have been intended to remind the pilgrims of the peaceful yet triumphant return of King David back over the Mount of Olives by which he had fled during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam. 15:30), when he too presumably rode on a donkey (2 Sam. 16:1–2).[4]
2 Samuel 16:1–2 NKJV
1 When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”
Speaking of Jesus, theologian, Daniel Akins says that
“...the choice of the donkey reveals the King will achieve his victory through humility. The salvation he secures will come through meekness. He doesn’t come to destroy other nations but to “proclaim peace to the nations.”[5]
The apostle Matthew tells us that the shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” were a fulfillment of prophecy. Echoing in the halls of Israel’s history were the cries for salvation from the people of God.
Psalm 118:25–26 NKJV
25 Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
Multiplied (Rev. 7:9-12)
Today, many of us live with a similar Messianic hope. Jesus Himself has influenced our desire for His return.
Revelation 22:20 NKJV
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But how do we know that we should hope for this? It is by the gracious and compassionate love of God. The grace of God has trained our hearts to live with the urgency of His arrival. To yearn for the Messiah’s appearance.
Titus 2:11–13 NKJV
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Our King is coming, but instead of riding, humbly, on the back of a donkey, He will come in victory on the back of a horse.
In the apocalyptic writings of John, we find these words,
Revelation 19:11–16 NKJV
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
What the Bible describes as being a day of judgment for those who rejected Christ’s coming in peace and humility, will be for those who trusted in Him a day of jubilation!
In the seventh chapter of Jesus’ Revelation, John is given access to a remarkable scene taking place before the throne of God. This is another Palm Sunday which the redeemed of God will get to be a part of.
Revelation 7:9–12 NKJV
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Daniel Akin paints a great picture for us about these verses.
In this massive throng of the redeemed in heaven, there is not the slightest hint of bigotry, ethnocentrism, prejudice, or racism. Of the [17,429] people groups in the world, each is present and represented. Of the [7,417] people groups currently unengaged, each is represented. Of the [3.37] billion persons still not having an adequate opportunity to hear the gospel, the Lamb is reaching out and calling them unto Himself by the Spirit and through His people.”[6]
Matthew 21:9 NKJV
9 “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
Respond
Again, for those of us who have trusted in the Lord, we look forward to His return. Jesus is our only salvation. My encouragement is that you would ask the Father to search your hearts today and to reveal where you have put your trust in men and worldly leaders more than you have trusted in the Sovereign hand of God. Then, in true worship, would you confess that and repent? Lay it at the foot of the cross and allow Jesus to restore your hope in Him.
Our elders and deacons and pastors are here to pray with you if you need prayer.
Finally, if you are not a Christian, if the promise of Christ’s return will be a day of hard judgment for you instead of a day of joy, I want to invite you to surrender. Your sin has completely cut you off from the saving grace of God, but because He loves you, He is reaching out today that you might have fullness of life.
Would you confess your need for Him? Tell Him, God I am a sinner and I recognize that You have given Your Son to save me. Jesus, set me free.
Tre Clark
Britton Christian Church
3/29/2026
[1] Rich Robinson, The Messiah in Jewish Thought - Jews for Jesus, https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/the-messiah-in-jewish-thought-who-is-he-and-what-is-he-supposed-to-do.
[2] Swindoll, Insights: Luke, pp499-500
[3] Vince Lombardi
[4] R. T. France, Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 300.
[5] Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in John, p246
[6] Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Revelation, p157; JoshuaProject, Dec. 6, 2022. joshuaproject.net
