House Church Questions

1. Share with one another any challenges or blessings you experienced this past week.

2. What do you think the people’s expectations were for the Messiah in verses 35-36, as they spread their cloaks on the road for him to ride upon, coming into Jerusalem? How do these compare with Hannah’s expectations for the Lord’s anointed, back in 1 Samuel 2.4-10? How do they compare with Jesus’ own expectations in coming to be Israel's Saviour (see Matthew 20.17-28)?

3. In verses 37-38, the people quote from Psalm 118. This was the final psalm read by the Jews at Passover Time, as part of the Jewish Hallel (Psalms 113-118). Read the verses surrounding verse 26 (i.e. verses 22-29), and discuss how it might apply to Christ. How do you think the Jews on Palm Sunday might have understood verse 22? (Note: both verse 22 and verse 26 are each quoted five times in the New Testament, to refer to Christ.)

4. In verses 39-40, some of the Pharisees criticized the crowd's proclamation of Jesus as King. But Jesus replied that if they kept silent, the stones – the most inanimate things one can think of – would cry out. How do you plan to proclaim Christ as King in your life, home, or with your friends this coming Easter weekend?

5. In Luke 19.40-44, rather than celebrating his triumphant entry, Jesus was weeping over Jerusalem because he knew that it would reject him as Messiah (as Psalm 118.22 had predicted) and, as a consequence, would be totally destroyed. When is the last time that you wept over your neighbourhood, your city, or your country? What would this look like today?

6. Despite the ultimate rejection of Jesus as King, there is actually a lot to celebrate in this story. In particular, in this story we see the humility and submission of Christ who was willing to do his Father’s will in going to Jerusalem at Passover Time though he knew it would result in his sacrifice on the cross. Read that great poem in Philippians 2.1-11, once again, and share what you see of the humility and triumph of Christ there. Spend some time praying that God would shape us into a community that reflects this kind of humility.