The King Is Coming

Children's Sermon: The King Is Coming (Matthew 21:1-11)

Hand each child a flag or noise maker to use when you give them the cue in the lesson. 

I want you to imagine this morning that we are going to have a visit from the president. I have some flags for some of you to wave and I have some noise makers. I will describe the parade, and as the president passes by, I want you to wave, blow your horns, and shout. Are you ready? The parade is about to begin.

Look! The parade is approaching. I can see it in the distance. The band is leading the parade and behind the band there are cars with other important people like our representatives, our senator, and the mayor of our city. As they pass by, we smile and wave. (Pause for kids to respond.) 

Then, here he comes -- the president. He is riding down the street in a big black convertible. He waves to the crowds that are lining the streets as he passes by. The people are…

• waving flags (Pause for kids to respond.) 

• blowing their noise makers and shouting, "Yea! Hip! Hip! Hooray! Yea!" (Pause for kids to respond.) 

Then as the parade moves on down the street, the sound of the band playing and people shouting fades away in the distance. It is over. The celebration is over.

That was very much like a scene that took place in Jerusalem one day. King Jesus was coming to their city. People lined the streets. Some people walked in front of the king and some walked behind him. Instead of a big, black convertible, the King rode on the back of a small donkey. Let’s do what the people did when King Jesus came to town.

As he rode through the streets of the city, the crowds…

• waved palm branches (Pause for kids to respond with their flags.) 

• they shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Pause for kids to respond.)

• they shouted, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Pause for kids to respond.) 

• they shouted, “Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Pause for kids to respond.) 

Today is Palm Sunday. Today we celebrate the entry of King Jesus into Jerusalem. It was a day that marked the beginning of an incredible week. A week that would see Jesus cheered, then arrested, tried, condemned, and crucified. But as that week came to an end, another week began just as the previous week had begun...with a celebration.

Dear Jesus, our voices join with the voices of the people in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.