Sermon Notes

Sacred Steps | Week 5 | Pastor Kevin Kringel | Palm Sunday

Sacred Steps: A Deliberate Walk with God Towards the Cross
Week 5
Palm Sunday: The Victory No One Expected | Why Jesus Didn’t Overthrow Rome 

God’s greatest victory didn’t look like power; it looked like surrender.
And it solved a deeper problem than anyone expected.

It seems ironic that this passage would be titled: "Triumphal Entry" when Jesus will be dead by the end of the week.

A CELEBRATION BUILT ON AN EXPECTATION
Matthew 21:1–11

SETTING THE SCENE
  • Jerusalem filling for Passover
  • Pilgrims arriving
  • Lambs being brought in
  • Energy, expectation, national hope
Jesus enters…
Crowds shouting: “Hosanna!” Messianic hopes were high.

Psalm 118:25-26 “Hosanna” = Hoshi‘ah na “Save us now!”

“Hosanna wasn’t just worship; it was an expectation. ‘Save us now… and do it our way.’”
They expected:
  • Immediate deliverance
  • Rome overthrown
  • Power on display (the Son of David, Messiah, Christ had come)

“They were celebrating a victory… that Jesus never came to win.”

They assumed:
  • Problem = Rome
  • Solution = Power

“They thought their greatest enemy was Rome…
But Jesus knew their greatest bondage was deeper than Rome.”

QUESTION
  • Do we ever expect God to move or do things a certain way based on what we believe to be the problem?
  • Can we be the crowd at points in our lives? (We must be careful because that same crowd, when it realized it wasn’t going to get what it wanted, then shouted, “Crucify Him.”)
  • The reality is that Christ was about to save them now. He was saving them from a bigger problem and enemy. (Isn’t it frustrating that Christ doesn’t do things according to our expectations?) “He’s not a tame lion”- C.S. Lewis

HE WENT WHERE THEY DIDN’T EXPECT
Matthew 21:12–13

If you’re going to “Save us now” …
You go to Rome’s seat of power:
  • Pontius Pilate
  • The palace
  • Take on The System

But Jesus doesn’t go there first. He goes to the Temple.

“They expected Him to confront Rome… But He confronted them.”

  • Cleanses the Temple
  • Deals with worship
  • Exposes what’s broken in their house

“Jesus didn’t start by fixing their outer world… He started by addressing their hearts.”

APPLY:
We want God to fix:
  • Other people
  • World systems
  • Expected outcomes
But God starts with:
  • Us
  • Our hearts
  • 1 Corinthians 3:16 “You yourselves are God’s temple…”
  • What tables would He flip?
  • What distractions would He remove?
  • What have we allowed in…
That doesn’t belong in the presence of God?

“Before God changes what’s around you… He often changes what’s within you.”

THE LAMB THEY DIDN’T RECOGNIZE
(The Passover lamb was about their house, their lives)
Exodus 12:3–6

Remember: The city is filled with lambs:
  • Selected
  • Examined
  • Prepared for sacrifice
At the same time… Jesus is being examined.
THE EXAMINATIONS:
  • Annas → John 18:12–24
  • Caiaphas → John 18:24
  • Pontius Pilate → John 18:28–40; 19:1–6 “I find no fault in him.”

“While they were busy inspecting lambs for sacrifice… God was presenting His Lamb for sacrifice.”
Warning: Religious activity while missing Jesus

“They were preparing lambs to cover sin… while rejecting the Lamb who would remove it.”
God is always doing more for us than we give Him credit for.
THE VICTORY THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND
Maybe flipping the tables was symbolic of how Jesus would upend the world's expectations.
Instead of:
  • taking power
  • overthrowing Rome
Jesus:
  • surrenders
  • is beaten
  • is crucified

“Jesus didn’t win by taking life… He won by giving His life.”

Intentional sacrifice: Philippians 2:5–11
  • He did not grasp power
  • He made Himself nothing
  • Took the form of a servant
  • Obedient to death

“This wasn’t forced on Jesus… this was chosen by Jesus.”

“This week wasn’t Jesus losing control… it was Jesus fully surrendering to a plan from the foundation of the Earth.” (Gen 3:15, Rev. 13:8)

“While the crowds wanted to force a victory… Jesus was trusting the plan that would bring a final victory.”

“He didn’t avoid the cross to get the victory, He went through the cross to become the victory.” (your victory and mine)

They thought:
  • Rome was the problem
“They wanted freedom from Rome (the biggest problem they conceived) (Makes you wonder if we ever think something is our problem when the real issue is separation from God) … Jesus came to bring freedom from sin.”

“They were looking for political victory…Jesus was securing eternal victory.”

WHY THIS WAY IS BETTER:
  • Power creates enemies
  • Jesus created a family
  • Force only controls behavior
  • Love transforms hearts

“Rome could control people… but only Jesus could transform them.”
If God is so good, why doesn’t He deal with evil? I propose to you that He has dealt with evil. His solution was not to stop each person's individual free will but to pay for their sin and offer them a way out of evil once and for all.
“God didn’t give them the victory they demanded… He gave them the victory they needed.”

“What looks like defeat or disappointment in your life… may be the very place God is bringing His greatest victory, doing His deepest work.”
Altar:
1. Lord, help me to trust you. Help me to see you. I am thankful for your love and care. I know you are working all things together for the greatest good.
2. Save me now (Be my Lamb of God, for my life and household).