Palm Sunday 2026
Matthew 21:1–13 - When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee. Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!”
(CSB)
Historical & Chronological Setting:
· It is believed to be early spring (April) and it is right around the time of the Jewish feast of Passover (Nissan)
· Jesus and His disciples are making their way from Jericho (where Blind Bartimaeus was just healed), and they are coming over the Mount of Olives (by way of the Roman Rd.), and they are making their way up to Jerusalem (down)
· Though each gospel account may differ slightly around some details, all accounts are unified in declaring that the people were welcoming Jesus into the city of Jerusalem with celebration as they were anticipating His arrival.
They welcomed Him by shouting…
· Hosanna – “Save us we pray”
· Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – (Psalm 118:26) referred to pilgrims entering the sanctuary/could also be Messianic
· Hosanna to the Son of David – Eternal kingdom in which all other kingdoms would fall – It was very eschatological – Final Hope
· Waving Palm Branches– A sign of victory and shouting
William Barclay -"There is no doubt that when the people sang this Psalm they were looking on Jesus as God's Anointed One, the Messiah, the Deliverer, the One who was to come. And there is no doubt that they were looking on him as the Conqueror. To them it must have been only a matter of time until the trumpets rang out and call to arms sounded and the Jewish nation swept to its long delayed victory over Rome and the world. Jesus approached Jerusalem with the shout of the mob hailing a conqueror in his ears – and it must have hurt him, for they were looking in him for that very thing which he refused to be."“The humble coming of Jesus will often bring a Holy Disruption in our lives.”
Matthew 27:15–26 - At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over. 9 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” 20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood See to it yourselves!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified. (CSB)
“Paschal Pardon” - Custom of releasing prisoners
“Barabbas”
· 1st name is Jesus
· Arrested for being a rioter (“bandit” - used by Josephus to speak of revolutionary)
“The humble coming of Jesus will often bring a collision with His Lordship.”
John Stott - “The astonishing paradox of Christ's teaching and of Christian experience is this: if we lose ourselves in following Christ, we actually find ourselves. True self-denial is self-discovery. To live for ourselves is insanity and suicide; to live for God and for man is wisdom and life indeed.”