Where's a Palm Frond When You Need It? | Matthew 21:1-9
“Where’s a Palm Frond When You Need it?”
Setting:
- Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, so folks were pretty excited…including Jesus’
enemies
- Matthew 20:17-19
17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to
them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the
chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand
him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be
raised to life!”
- Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons asked Jesus if her boys could sit at his right and left
hands
- They didn’t get it…in fact, Matthew has her at Jesus’ crucifixion…
Matthew 21:1-6
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two
disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey
tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to
you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: (the prophet Zechariah)
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” [a]
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the
colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.
This is referencing the Old Testament prophesy of the coming King…the Messiah
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
This prophesy of the coming King was 500 years before Jesus…
In Jacob’s blessing on his son Judah, he is also pronouncing that Israel’s true and everlasting
king will come from the tribe of Judah…even referring to the donkey
Genesis 49:10-11
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, [a]
until he to whom it belongs [b] shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.
Why a donkey?
In ancient times, when a conquering king rode into a city, it was usually with a show of great
power and wealth, on a white horse in times of war, and a donkey in times of peace. Our King,
Jesus was going to ride into the city triumphantly, yet peacefully and meekly on a donkey.
Meek, meaning power under control.
1 Kings 1:32-34
32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.”
When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and
have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok
the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout,
‘Long live King Solomon!’
This represents the day that Solomon was recognized as the new king
So - The symbolism and significance of this event would be understood by everyone there…
- So, After a few years of showing people who He was, and telling those He healed not to tell
anyone, Jesus was letting the people of Jerusalem, those visiting for the Passover, the
leaders of the synagogue, the rulers of Jerusalem and every single one of us know that He
was and is indeed the Messiah…the King
Matthew 21:1-6
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the
colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their
cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The
crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna [b] to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” [c]
“Hosanna [d] in the highest heaven!”
Hosanna: means “save now”…where did that come from??
Psalm 118:25-26
LORD, save us! (That is the word Hosanna)
LORD, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. [a]
- They did not truly understand HOW Jesus was going to save them.
-
- Their expectations were not in line with the King’s will, but their own.
-
- They understood the prophesy enough to know that He was the messiah, but not enough to
get past their own notions of why He was there and what the Messiah was going to deliver
them from… He did not come to deliver them from Rome. He came to deliver them and all
of us from sin, death and hell.
-
So why did they lay down palm fronds?
Palm branches were often used in the celebration of victory and in King David’s time, they were
used to honor royalty.
Even Wikipedia says: The palm branch, or palm frond, is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace,
and eternal life. We see them in the old testament and even in the Book of Revelation:
Revelation 7:9
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from
every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They
were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
So if palm branches are so important, why didn’t we distribute them today?
Because you already have one…because I believe we already ARE one…
If we are in Christ, are we not (as Wikipedia called it) symbols of victory, triumph, peace, and
eternal life?
Everything you can lay down before the King, you already have. We know what it meant for
people to lay down their coats and palms before Jesus, but He is calling us to lay down our lives
for our King…our hearts, our minds, our strength …everything we are.
Every thought / Every action / Every relationship / Every job / Every habit / Every worry / Our
past, present and future. That is what we should be laying down before our King
In Luke 14, Jesus talks about the cost of being a disciple…
Luke 14:25-27
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me
and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their
own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and
follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live
in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
He wants us to lay down everything we are for Him…so much more than a palm frond and a
cloak.
He laid down His life for us and asks the same of us for Him.
What are your expectations of the King? Are they in line with His will or with yours?
Do you know that our King isn’t here to make you rich? Or to make you happy? Or to help you
take control of society with power. Our king said “in this life you will have trouble” and “Whoever
wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
As a follower of Jesus, If we are not living a life for Him, are we yelling “Hosannah” with our
mouths and “Crucify Him” by our actions?
This was easier when it was just a palm branch…in fact…where’s a palm frond when you need
it?
That same king who came riding a donkey into Jerusalem as a peaceful conquering king,
conquered sin and death, delivered us from an eternity without God, and is coming back to
vanquish the enemy…and the next time, He will be riding a war horse…
Revelation 19:11-16
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called
Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on
his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he
himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The
armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and
clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will
rule them with an iron scepter.” [a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God
Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Luke 19:39-40
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
All of nature knows the significance of this moment…and this King…do we?
Pray
The Lord’s Supper
23 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he
was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my
body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took
the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in
remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the
Lord’s death until he comes.
Passages from The Message:
Matthew 20:17-19
Matthew 21:1-6
Zechariah 9:9
Genesis 49:10-11
1 Kings 1:32-34
Matthew 21:1-6
Psalm 118:25-26
Revelation 7:9
Luke 14:25-27
Luke 14:33
Galatians 2:20
Revelation 19:11-16
Luke 19:39-40