“The King Who Must Be Praised”
As We Get Ready For Resurrection Sunday
Day 1 – Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry
“The King Who Must Be Praised”
Luke 19:38–40
As Jesus entered Jerusalem in what we often call the Triumphal Entry, the crowds cried out: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” This was not a random outburst of excitement—it was deeply rooted in the language of worship from the Old Testament, especially Psalms. In particular, their words echo Psalm 118:26: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” This psalm was traditionally sung during Passover, the very season in which Jesus entered the city. The people were, whether fully understanding it or not, proclaiming Jesus as the long-awaited King.
Yet this King did not arrive as many expected. He came riding on a colt—humble, peaceful, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. He was not a political conqueror but a Savior who would bring peace not through force, but through sacrifice. The praise of the crowd pointed to a greater truth: Jesus is the rightful King, sent by God, worthy of honor and worship.
The religious leaders, however, were troubled by this public declaration. They asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples. But His response is striking: “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Creation itself recognizes the authority and glory of the King. This moment reveals a powerful truth—praise is not optional when the King is present. If people refuse, creation will testify.
This connects again to the Psalms. Throughout Psalms, we see a call for all creation to praise God—trees, rivers, mountains, and all living things (Psalm 96, 98). The Triumphal Entry is a living picture of those psalms coming to life. The King has come, and all of creation is ready to respond.
Application
The question for us is simple: Will we join in the praise? Jesus is still the King—worthy, present, and deserving of worship. We heard Pastor Carlos teaching in Revelation that we will worship God for eternity. We should not wait for a future time or a crowd to stir our hearts or for circumstances to be ideal. The truth of who He is demands a response. Worship Him today and forever.
Let your life be louder than the stones. Worship Him not only with your words, but with your obedience, your surrender, and your daily walk. The King has come—and He is worthy of all praise.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the true King, humble yet powerful, worthy of all glory. Forgive me for the times I have been silent when I should have praised You. Help me to recognize Your presence in my life and respond with wholehearted worship. Let my life declare Your greatness so that even the stones will not need to cry out in my place. Amen.
Luke 19:38–40
As Jesus entered Jerusalem in what we often call the Triumphal Entry, the crowds cried out: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” This was not a random outburst of excitement—it was deeply rooted in the language of worship from the Old Testament, especially Psalms. In particular, their words echo Psalm 118:26: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” This psalm was traditionally sung during Passover, the very season in which Jesus entered the city. The people were, whether fully understanding it or not, proclaiming Jesus as the long-awaited King.
Yet this King did not arrive as many expected. He came riding on a colt—humble, peaceful, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. He was not a political conqueror but a Savior who would bring peace not through force, but through sacrifice. The praise of the crowd pointed to a greater truth: Jesus is the rightful King, sent by God, worthy of honor and worship.
The religious leaders, however, were troubled by this public declaration. They asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples. But His response is striking: “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Creation itself recognizes the authority and glory of the King. This moment reveals a powerful truth—praise is not optional when the King is present. If people refuse, creation will testify.
This connects again to the Psalms. Throughout Psalms, we see a call for all creation to praise God—trees, rivers, mountains, and all living things (Psalm 96, 98). The Triumphal Entry is a living picture of those psalms coming to life. The King has come, and all of creation is ready to respond.
Application
The question for us is simple: Will we join in the praise? Jesus is still the King—worthy, present, and deserving of worship. We heard Pastor Carlos teaching in Revelation that we will worship God for eternity. We should not wait for a future time or a crowd to stir our hearts or for circumstances to be ideal. The truth of who He is demands a response. Worship Him today and forever.
Let your life be louder than the stones. Worship Him not only with your words, but with your obedience, your surrender, and your daily walk. The King has come—and He is worthy of all praise.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the true King, humble yet powerful, worthy of all glory. Forgive me for the times I have been silent when I should have praised You. Help me to recognize Your presence in my life and respond with wholehearted worship. Let my life declare Your greatness so that even the stones will not need to cry out in my place. Amen.
Looking at the East Gate from the Mount of Olives - Israel 2022