“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 2:5

[Optional… Before you begin the devotional, pass out Life Saver Mints to each person]

Read this out loud…

• Something took place in the city of Jerusalem about 2000 years ago: a King was entering the city. People lined the streets hoping to get to see him!  Let’s find out more…
• Read Matthew 21:1-11 together
• As Jesus came riding in on a small donkey through the streets, some people spread their cloaks on the road (like today when we “roll out the red carpet”) and others waved palm branches.
• Does anyone remember the word everyone was shouting to honor Jesus? (“Hosanna”)
• The word “Ho’shanna” in the Hebrew language means “Save, now,” and it was also a shout of praise like “Hallelujah!” or “Praise the Lord!”
• They were actually quoting Psalm 118:25-26, which says:  “O LORD, save us;  O LORD, grant us success.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.  From the house of the LORD we bless you.”

• To help remember that Jesus is our Saving King, everyone can eat their Life Saver Mint now.
• But did you know that what happened that day was also a fulfillment of one of God’s prophets who spoke hundreds of years before Jesus’ time?
• Have someone read Zechariah 9:9 and then ask… “Who does it say will come riding into Jerusalem on a donkey?”
• In one of many ways, Jesus declared Himself to be the Messiah that day by riding on the colt into Jerusalem, just as Zechariah had foretold. The people knew this because they blessed the kingdom of David, which was to be the kingdom of the Messiah.
• Throughout these devos we are going to work on memorizing Philippians 2:5-11 together (one verse a day).  The end of that passage promises that one day every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
• Unfortunately, the people’s worship on that first Palm Sunday didn’t last. Jesus was only their “King for a Day.”  Later that same week He was arrested, beaten, tried, and crucified for our sins, just as God had planned.  But many of the same people who had cheered him on Sunday as their king turned against him and were shouting for his death (Mk 15:13-14).
• Review today’s memory verse together, Philippians 2:5.
• Close your time in prayer.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Make fans out of pieces of paper (to symbolize palm branches) and reenact the triumphal entry in your living room (take turns having someone play the part of Jesus).  You can even lay coats down on the floor too!

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:  To get an overview of much of what will be covered this week, go to YouTube and watch The Truth Project’s overview of Luke chapters 10-24 (https://youtu.be/26z_KhwNdD8)

For TEENS and OLDER KIDS: Read the events surrounding the Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21:1-16, and then discuss together the various ways Jesus was claiming His kingship through His actions (answers are explained below)

Jesus claimed His kingship by…

1. Entering Jerusalem on a Donkey (Zechariah 9:9)

• This fulfilled prophecy, showed humility (donkey rather than a horse), and even demonstrated His command over His creation (a donkey that had never been ridden)
• His second coming, by the way, will be much different… He will be on a white horse from heaven with all His saints, conquering all in His path, and then reigning from Jerusalem (Rev 19:11-16; Zech 14:3-9)

2. Cleansing the Temple (Isaiah 56:7)

• Jesus assumed the authority and prerogative to do this
• The “my house” in Isaiah is the Lord speaking, as well as in Jeremiah 7:11 when He talks of His house becoming a “den of robbers”

3. Healing the Blind and the Lame (Isaiah 35:5-6)

• This was a Messianic expectation (zero people in the Old Testament were healed of blindness)
• This was one of the evidences Jesus offered to John the Baptist (Mt 11:4-5)

4. Accepting the Praise of Children (Ps 8:2)

• The chief priests can’t believe Jesus is letting all this worship go unchallenged
• His response? “It’s my praise that Psalm 8 is referring to.”