Jerusalem Welcomes Jesus Family Worship At Home . Year D . NT Lesson 12 . Matthew 21; Mark 11:1-10

PREPARATION: This week Jesus, the Messiah, the Saviour King who God’s people had been waiting for, completes his final journey to Jerusalem, the very epicenter of Jewish life and worship. The people there have long awaited the arrival of the Messiah and when Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred up and people asked: “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10).

As Jesus entered Jerusalem the crowd called out words much like those sung by angels at his birth: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The crowds around him cried out, bound up in feverish anticipation of what this long-awaited Messiah was going to do, eagerly waiting to witness his power unleashed on all those who opposed them. For they did not understand who he was, why he had come, or what he came to save them from. You see, the Servant King is not (primarily) glorified in his triumphal entry to Jerusalem. He is most glorified in his death and resurrection. The waving palm branches don’t foreshadow a new Israelite kingdom, but the future glory of the heavenly multitude gathered around the throne of God singing, “salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev 7:9-10). Only there–in his heavenly kingdom, in the new creation–will we see the full fruit that grows from the seed of Christ’s death and resurrection, the gathering of people from all nations and languages into one family, the family of God, a people united with our Triune God forever.

READ: Matthew 21:1-11

ASK: What images come to mind when you read about Jesus’ Triumphal entry? A crowd at a sporting event? A royal procession? How does Jesus’ ministry dispel or reframe these ideas? How does his coming death and resurrection shape the way that you read today’ story?

PRAY: that God will give your children his grace and the gift faith to call out Jesus for salvation and to joyfully worship and follow him as their God and King.

REFLECT: on the following Q&A’s from To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism, which address Jesus’ identity as the only eternal Son of God, our Lord. Reflect on how these Q&A’s help us to understand what is happening when Jesus enters Jerusalem in today’s story.

Q2. What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the good news that God loves the world and offers salvation from sin through his Son, Jesus Christ.

(Psalm 103:1–13; Isaiah 53:4–5; John 3:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:1–5)

Q48. Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the eternal Word and Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He took on human nature to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world, the only Mediator between God and fallen humanity.

(Psalm 2; Malachi 3:1; John 1:1–18; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Timothy 2:5–6)

Q 49. What does “Jesus” mean?

“Jesus” means “God saves” and is taken from the Hebrew name Yeshua or Joshua. In Jesus, God has come to save us from the power of sin and death.

(Joshua 1:1–9; Psalm 20; Matthew 1:18–25; Romans 8:1–2)

Q50. What does “Christ” mean?

“Christos” is the Greek term for the Hebrew title Messiah, meaning “Anointed One.” Old Testament kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil. Jesus the Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit to perfectly fulfill these roles, and he rules now as Prophet, Priest, and King over his Church and all creation.

(Exodus 40:12– 16; 1 Samuel 16:11–13; 1 Kings 19:15–16; Psalm 89:19–29; Luke 3:21–22; 4:14–21; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 4:14–5:10)

Q51. Why is Jesus called the Father’s “only Son”?

Jesus alone is God the Son, coequal and coeternal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He alone is the image of the invisible Father, the one who makes the Father known. He is now and forever will be incarnate as a human, bearing his God-given human Name. The Father created and now rules all things in heaven and earth through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Psalm 2:7–12; John 1:14–18; Colossians 1:13–15; Hebrews 1:1–5; see also Athanasian Creed)

Q52. What do you mean when you call Jesus Christ “Lord”?

I acknowledge Jesus’ divine authority over the Church and all creation, over all societies and their leaders, and over every aspect of my life, both public and private. I surrender my entire life to him and seek to live in a way that pleases him.

(Daniel 7:13–14; Matthew 7:21–23; Luke 9:23–26; Ephesians 1:15–23; Colossians 1:16–18)

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OPENING FAMILY WORSHIP

GREETING

The Lord be with you; And also with you! Lift up your hearts; We lift them up to the Lord Let us give thanks to the Lord our God; It is right to give him thanks and praise

CHURCH CALENDAR

ASK: We are in the last week of Lent. Our waiting is almost over. Do you remember what we have been preparing for throughout Lent? (Celebrating Jesus death and resurrection at Easter)

ASK: Today is a special day in the church year. Does anyone know what today is called? What do we remember and celebrate on this day? (Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem)

SING

So Great is Jesus Love – Emu Music (https://youtu.be/4TNoqLmgm2U)

Holy Lord – Steve Bell (https://youtu.be/2BWIxE33Q-k)

CATECHISM QUESTION These short questions and answers help us to grow in the foundational truths of our faith.

Q: What is the New Testament?

The New Testament contains the record of Jesus Christ’s birth (hold baby), life (walking arms) ministry (extend palms upward and out at waist level), death (form cross with forearms), resurrection (scoop hands down and then sweep them up to waist level) and ascension (continue to sweep them up to the sky)

PRAY (Link to the Rain for Roots Song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5N4hUjI0XZ0) Transition into your Bible story and discussion by saying or singing this prayer by Rain for Roots.

Open up our ears to listen, open up our eyes to see. Plant the seed of understanding, grow it up like the tallest tree. Pull the blinds, open wide all the windows. Fill our hearts with the light of your truth.

BIBLE PLAY VIDEO

Jerusalem Welcomes Jesus Bible Play Video: https://vimeo.com/525254293 3

REFLECT AND DISCUSS

Younger Kids (Age 3–Gr.2)

• Do you think it was hard for Jesus to go to Jerusalem? Why? Or, why not?

• Do you remember what the people were shouting? I wonder what Hosanna means? I wonder why the people in the crowd were calling Jesus the Son of David? (“Hosanna” means “save us!” and “the Son of David” was a name for the Messiah, the Saviour King)

• I wonder, what does Jesus save us from? How does Jesus save us? (Jesus saves us from our sin, all the bad things we have ever done. All of our sin died with Jesus on the cross. When we trust him, we are totally and completely forgiven and welcomed into God’s family forever!)

Books you may want to read: The Big Picture Story Bible, David Helm, Pages 354-357

Older Kids (Gr.3-6)

SAY: When a King or Queen arrives in a city, it’s a big deal! Usually there is a parade with fancy cars, or, in Jesus’ day, beautiful horses and chariots. But Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on a young donkey! This was strange, surprising even, but it was not an accident. God actually said that this would happen more than 500 years before Jesus was even born.

READ: 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.”

• According to Zechariah, what kind of King is Jesus? (Righteous, victorious, and humble) Does this fit with what we have seen Jesus doing and teaching in the Gospels?

• What were the people calling out as Jesus passed by? (Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!)

• What does all of this mean? (Hosanna is a cry for salvation. The Son of David is a name for the Messiah. The crowds were praising Jesus as the Saviour King who God had promised to them long ago.)

• Jesus came to Jerusalem to save his people from their sins. How did he do this? Do you think the people in those crowds expected him to die? What did they expect him to do?

• What does this story teach us about Jesus? How is God calling us to respond?

RESPOND

COLOUR: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” Colouring Page

WATCH: “The Meaning of Easter” by Phil Vischer, a clip from his series, What’s in the Bible with Buck Denver: https://youtu.be/DQ7Dc_w_Tl8 4