Sermon Palm Sunday 2025
Today, we stand at the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred week in the Christian calendar. It is a week that will carry us from the jubilant shouts of "Hosanna!" to the sorrowful cries of "Crucify Him!" We began today with the celebration of Palm Sunday — a day of triumph and joy. Jesus entered Jerusalem in a way that was so unexpected. He entered not looking like a conquering king on a war horse that the people were expecting – were hoping for. Instead he came as a humble and peaceful king, riding on a donkey. What message is Jesus sending?
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, which says: "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 prophecy was well-known among the Jewish people – but forgotten. Zechariah presents a humble king who would bring peace, not through military might, but through righteousness. But the people forgot that because they were under siege. And at times it’s easy for us also to forget God’s promises to care for us when we are under attack.
Jesus’ entry was a fulfillment of God’s promise, showing that God’s kingdom would not be like the kingdoms of the earth, ruled by power and force, but a kingdom marked by peace, justice, and humility. Just look at how today’s kingdoms show their power and authority – Russia and Ukraine; Israel, Palestine, Gaza. The protests in society for many and varied causes which are usually highlighted with anger, violence and disruption. Human nature knows one way – violence.
The crowd spread palm branches and cloaks on the ground, honoring Jesus as a king. Palm branches were a symbol of victory and triumph, used to celebrate the arrival of a military hero or king. How they were mistaken. Jesus wasn’t the type of king they were expecting – so they rejected him. He wasn’t a king who came to overthrow the Roman Empire as they expected - so they rejected him.
He wasn’t a king who came to lead an armed rebellion - so they rejected him.
He met none of the expectations of the people. He came to offer peace, salvation, and reconciliation with God. That wasn’t what the people were wanting - so they rejected him. And perhaps that is the message for us today. Does Jesus meet YOUR expectations.
What happens when you expect God to act in a certain way and he doesn’t? Do you feel betrayed? Do you reject him? Do you go from Hosanna to “Crucify Him”? Or like Peter – I tell you the truth – I do not know him! It’s easy to imitate the crowd’s reaction when everything is going fine in life. It’s easy to get caught up in their excitement. God is great – I feel truly blessed. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” But all of a sudden the people realised that Jesus wasn’t going to do that.
So it was easy to listen to the leaders to get rid of him when he wasn’t restoring them to their glory days. Aren’t we guilty of that? Wanting to go back to the days when our Sunday Schools were overflowing – when we had small groups, family camps, filled pews. Like the Israelites who wanted to go back to Egypt rather than following wherever God was leading them? Jesus once warned against that: “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
They thought that the Messiah would come to return their glory. But Jesus came to establish a much greater kingdom — the Kingdom of God, a kingdom that rejects political borders and human power. It is a kingdom of peace, love, and righteousness, where Jesus reigns as the King of people’s hearts, not just as the ruler of nations. And this is where we are called to reflect: How often do we have our own expectations of what Jesus should do for us? A Jesus who fits into our plans, who delivers what we want. Or do we trust in the wisdom and the will of God, even when it leads us down paths we don’t expect or want to go? Remember when Peter learnt what Jesus came to do and he said – Never Lord!
Jesus came not to meet our expectations, but to fulfill God’s perfect plan for our salvation. But too often we want to tell God OUR plans and become disillusioned when he asks us to repeat Jesus’ comment – “not my will be done but yours”. Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem was not what the will of the people expected but God’s will. The people wanted peace but not the peace Jesus was bringing. It would be a peace we don’t understand as Jesus said: I bring peace, but not as the world gives. Jesus says in John 14 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jesus didn’t ride into the city on a war horse, but on a humble donkey. Jesus came not to wage war against flesh and blood, but to fight a much greater battle — a battle against sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Paul says similar when he says - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. That’s the true battle that Jesus came to fight for us. A fight that is not won through human strength but through Spiritual armour – through prayer, through worship, through word and sacrament, through faith in Christ as our Saviour.
In a world that often seeks power through force, violence, and domination, Jesus shows us a different way. He shows us the way of peace. This peace was not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God’s kingdom, where hearts are transformed by His love and grace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He calls us to live as citizens of His kingdom.
In a world filled with division, hatred, and strife, we are called to be peacemakers — to love our neighbors, to forgive our enemies, and to seek reconciliation in all things. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God. How will we respond to Jesus today? Will we allow His peace to transform our hearts, or will we continue to seek peace in the things of this world? As we celebrate Palm Sunday, let us remember that the King of Peace has come. His triumph was not one of military might, but of sacrificial love.
As we enter into this Holy Week, let us prepare our hearts to follow Jesus on His journey to the cross, where He would lay down His life for the salvation of the world. Let us follow the example of the humble King, who came to serve, to love, and to bring peace.