Part 2 Palm Sunday and the Arrest
At Easter, Jesus faced two crowds. One crowd wanted to make him king, and the other wanted him crucified.
Before You ListenLet's Get Started
Theme: Worshiping God- The Miracle of Easter.
- In the same week, Jesus met a cheering crowd (John 12: 12-19) and a jeering mob (Matthew 27:11-26). How are a crowd and a mob two different things? How might you have felt if you had been in each of these groups?
- One group cheered, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” The second crowd yelled, “Crucify him!” As you listen to this story, wonder about who was in these crowds. What did they come to see? What did they do? Do you think that there were people who were in both crowds?
After you listen
Memory Verse
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Quiz
Reflect
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the last week of Jesus’ life. On that day, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. People began to throw down their cloaks and wave palm branches. They sang and danced as Jesus entered the North Gate. They saw him as the prophet and miracle worker who raised a man from the dead! They hoped Jesus would kick the Roman rulers out and rule over Judah, just like his ancestor, King David, did many years before.
The religious leaders saw Jesus as a huge threat that had just entered the city. As the week continued, these leaders hated Jesus even more. By Friday, they had arrested and tried Jesus. A new crowd saw him in chains, alone, beaten, and kneeling before the Roman ruler, Pontius Pilate. This crowd saw him as a troublemaker who had challenged the Jewish leaders’ rule and the authority of Rome. Pilate tried to release Jesus, but he gave in to the angry mob and sentenced Jesus to die.
All that week, people in the crowds, the Jewish leaders, and the Roman authorities kept asking, “Who is Jesus?” Rebel? King? Threat? Troublemaker? Their answers led to Jesus on the cross. When people ask you, “Who is Jesus?” what is your answer?
Want to dig deeper and learn more about who Jesus was? Check out Luke 9: 18-27, John 3, and John 8:21-30.
Challenge
There are seven “I am…” statements that Jesus taught about himself. Choose one, draw a picture, and then write the verse underneath. You could even do them all and learn seven important verses about Jesus. What did you learn about Jesus?
1. “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’” (John 6:35).
2. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).
3. “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9).
4. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
5. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).
6. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
7. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
