MARCH 23
THE UNEXPECTED ROAD
What does it mean to welcome Jesus as King, and how does His humility redefine our understanding of leadership? In this passage, Jesus enters Jerusalem amid shouts of praise, fulfilling ancient prophecy as the humble King who comes to bring peace. The crowd welcomes Him as their expected Messiah, but their understanding of His kingship is incomplete. This week, we’ll explore how Jesus’ arrival challenges our own expectations of power, authority, and glory.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own or get together with your group, spiritual running partners, or family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Share your answer to the question posed in service – Tell of an expectation you had of a family member that maybe didn’t add up to everyone else’s expectation of them?
- What is a real expectation you’ve had about Jesus that you’ve had to surrender, and trust the reality of who he is? (For example – thinking it may be easier to stay sober after following Jesus, but the truth is that he is a comfort in times of fighting for my sobriety)
3. Read Mark 11:1-11.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
- Read Luke 19:28-40 and see any apparent differences
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about God?
- Why are Mark 11: 9b & 10 important?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- If you were in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ entry, what phrase or word would you use to honor the King’s entry?
KEY SCRIPTURE
Mark 11:1-11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
PRAYER
Jesus, you deserve all of the adoration that the crowds were giving you as you entered Jerusalem. You are the King of our lives, and we want to see you as such. But there are times we want you to do the things we need you to do, and our praise can dry up when we don’t get our way. Forgive us for not always seeing you as you truly are, and instead shouting “Hosanna” so you can deliver us from whatever situation is causing us pain or discomfort. We commit to you having sovereignty over our hearts, instead of the nation we live in, but when you have our heart you call us to lead the nations to know you.
PRACTICE
- Jesus had a clear mission while he was walking on Earth, and he did not succumb to pleasing the people. Search your heart this week, is there an area you recognize that needs to be back on mission and submitted to God?
- With Easter Weekend on the horizon, mark your calendar to attend one of our Good Friday services, and proactively invite a friend to Easter weekend at a campus near you.