Sermon Listening Guide
Speaker: Dr. Condy Richardson
Scripture: John 12:12-19
Sermon Title: “The King Enters Jerusalem”
Date: September 27,2026
John 12:12-19 (NIV)
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”[c]
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”[c]
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
First Thoughts
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem showed him to be a different kind of king.
Within the span of just a few days, he disappointed some but won many over.
Palm Sunday is described in all four of the Gospels.
Be Prepared
The Palm Sunday story is full of details that give us a colorful picture of the day.
Jesus rode a donkey colt into town as a show of both his kingship and his humility.
On this day, Jesus cast off the “Messianic Secret” and loudly proclaimed exactly who he was.
Jesus also showed his supreme control over matters.
The Entry
His immense popularity stemmed partially from his resurrection of Lazarus.
Many in the crowd threw their cloak on the donkey or along the dusty road before the donkey.
In verse 13, the people of Jerusalem declared him “King!”
In waving palm branches, they again referred to his kingship.
The Tears
Interestingly, Jesus shed tears for Jerusalem in the Palm Sunday story in Luke 19.
How many times did Jesus’ cry in the Gospels?
How often did Jesus show great emotion in the Gospels?
What words would you use to describe the Jesus of the four Gospels?
Do you find Jesus working in your everyday life?
Conclusion
The New Testaments show many occasions when Jesus “arrived” on the scene.
He will return one more time to gather his faithful people.
As he chose us, we must choose him.
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem showed him to be a different kind of king.
Within the span of just a few days, he disappointed some but won many over.
Palm Sunday is described in all four of the Gospels.
Be Prepared
The Palm Sunday story is full of details that give us a colorful picture of the day.
Jesus rode a donkey colt into town as a show of both his kingship and his humility.
On this day, Jesus cast off the “Messianic Secret” and loudly proclaimed exactly who he was.
Jesus also showed his supreme control over matters.
The Entry
His immense popularity stemmed partially from his resurrection of Lazarus.
Many in the crowd threw their cloak on the donkey or along the dusty road before the donkey.
In verse 13, the people of Jerusalem declared him “King!”
In waving palm branches, they again referred to his kingship.
The Tears
Interestingly, Jesus shed tears for Jerusalem in the Palm Sunday story in Luke 19.
How many times did Jesus’ cry in the Gospels?
How often did Jesus show great emotion in the Gospels?
What words would you use to describe the Jesus of the four Gospels?
Do you find Jesus working in your everyday life?
Conclusion
The New Testaments show many occasions when Jesus “arrived” on the scene.
He will return one more time to gather his faithful people.
As he chose us, we must choose him.