Going Deeper in “The King They Did Not Want”
Read the following a few times:
Matt 21:1-11; Zech 9:9; Rom 12:1; Matt 6:10; Prov 3:5-6
Reflect on the following:
1. What kind of king were the people likely expecting Jesus to be?
2. Why do you think the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” would later turn against Him?
3. What expectations do people today often place on Jesus that don’t match who He reveals Himself to be?
4. When you picture Jesus as King, what emotions come up for you—comfort, resistance, confusion, trust? Why?
5. What’s one expectation you’ve placed on God that He hasn’t fulfilled the way you hoped? How has that affected your trust in Him?
6. Have you ever felt disappointed with God? What kind of “king” were you hoping He would be in that moment?
7. What would it look like for you to truly surrender to Jesus’ leadership in your daily decisions?
8. Who or what tends to take the “throne” in your life instead of Jesus (success, comfort, approval, security, etc.)?
9. How do you typically respond when Jesus leads you in a direction that feels uncomfortable or inconvenient?
10. What “cloak” (symbol of identity, status, or security) might Jesus be asking you to lay down before Him?
11. How would your week look different if you fully lived as someone who has welcomed Jesus as King?
Spiritual Challenges:
1. Lay It Down - Just as the crowd laid down cloaks and branches, identify one thing you’re holding onto (control, expectation, worry). Actively surrender it to Jesus in prayer this week.
2. Go and Tell - The crowd proclaimed who Jesus was—even if imperfectly. Share with one person this week why Jesus matters to you.