The Road To Easter | Week 1 | Full Service

The big idea

Jesus enters Jerusalem offering peace and salvation, not the conquest and comfort people expected of their Messiah. When He doesn't meet our expectations, we're tempted to throw Him away — but the King who brings victory through humility, joy through sorrow, and salvation through sacrifice is exactly the King we actually need.

Point 1 of 3

Pastor Hunter contrasts a king riding a war horse (power, conquest) with Jesus riding an unbroken donkey's colt (peace, humility), noting that Pontius Pilate was likely making a rival procession into the city at the same time on a war horse. He illustrates the trap of fighting for power with a childhood Monopoly story with his sister and the escalating 'crazy cycle' in marriages and friend groups, arguing that humility, not winning, brings real victory.

Point 2 of 3

The crowd waved palm branches expecting Jesus to change their circumstances, but Jesus knew joy only comes on the other side of the cross. Pastor Hunter tells the story of a coworker's buffalo tattoo — buffalo run through a storm to reach the sun rather than fleeing it like cows — and points to Psalm 23's 'through the valley' language to show that Jesus leads us through pain toward healing rather than around it.

Point 3 of 3

The crowd cried 'Hosanna,' meaning 'save us now,' wanting salvation through strength, but Jesus offers salvation through sacrifice as the true Passover Lamb. Pastor Hunter walks through the Exodus Passover lamb requirement (perfect, unblemished, sacrificed, blood on the doorpost) and shows Jesus fulfilling that picture, contrasting earning God's love through works with living from a love already given.

Take it into your week

Jesus may not be the king we want, but He's the king we need — so the question is where we need to come back to that King.