Pastor Michael Kelly, the founder of the Northwest Church Planting Network, shares how Jesus rehearses for Easter in Matthew 21:1-17. There’s a number of linguistic links between Matthew 21, Jesus’ triumphant entry, and Matthew 28, the resurrection of King Jesus. Spend some time reflecting on the side-by-side comparison here.
- In Matthew 21, we see Jesus rehearsing Easter. He orchestrated this entire day to help us understand what to expect from Him in the world as He’s saving it and the world as He’ll leave it, incomplete and still broken. We must understand this or Jesus will always disappoint our expectations.
- On Palm Sunday we see the fulfillment of the prophesy of Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9-12) in Christ Jesus.
- Imagine you are a metaphor for Jerusalem on the day of Palm Sunday. Let Him cleanse you, let Him comfort you, and then no matter what, praise Him and take Him at His Word. He will finish what He started.
- In times of doubt and disappointment, as you evaluate the savior of your expectations vs. the savior of your salvation, make sure you’re not giving up on the wrong savior.
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Identify the needs and conditions of your life that you have asked God to do something about in order to have the peace you desire. Take some time to share these prayer requests openly and honestly, all the while recognizing and encouraging one another that in Christ alone we find our peace.
- What do you do with the things that God doesn’t do? How does it weigh on you? Do you understand God’s intent?
- What are you going to do with a Savior who is much more tenaciously concerned with capturing your heart than you want him to be?
- He wants us to come to Him as broken people with the hearts of children. Spend the remaining time together in prayer, first in a time of repentance and then shifting to praise.