Reflection Questions, Palm Sunday
- Have you ever been deeply served by a person in a position of authority (political leader, teacher, military officer, doctor). How did they serve you? How did that impact your willingness to listen or follow them?
- Read Zechariah 9.9-12. Here the prophet, hundreds of years BC, looks forward to a new king. It is one of a number of OT prophecies that anticipate a king who reigns over the nations by servanthood rather than conquest. What details point to his coming as a servant, not a warrior?
- What great enemy will he save humankind from? (Zechariah 9v11)
- Remember, the palm branch was a symbol of Jewish national pride and their desire to overthrow Rome. What similar nationalistic symbols do the nations of the world use today?
- Read John 12.12-13. It seems like there is both a crowd accompanying Jesus, also interested to see Lazarus whom he had recently raised from the dead (see Jn 12v9). And secondly, a zealous, political, crowd that comes out to Jesus from their Passover preparations in Jerusalem v12-13, as Jesus approaches from Bethany.
How did the Passover celebration have a political protest within it? Who were the contemporary ‘Egyptians’ that the people sought deliverance from? Refer back to Exodus 12 and Deut. 16.1-8 if you need to.
6. Consider Jesus’ position as the crowd claims divine endorsement for his kingship, and demands salvation (Jn12v13). What would it have taken to spark an insurrection at this point?
7. How was Jesus’ action, seeking and riding a young donkey (v14-15), a direct challenge to the plans of the Jerusalem crowd?
8. Read John 12.20-22. These Greeks are most likely Gentiles from the Greek speaking world, perhaps ethnically Greek too, but they had become God fearers. They adopted the one God of Israel instead of the many gods in Greek culture. Yet they had not taken on all the Jewish law. They could not obey laws like the Jewish ceremonial and food laws. To become completely obedient to the entire Jewish law was impossible given their circumstances. They likely observed sabbath attendance, prayed, and tried to live with virtue, and occasionally came on pilgrimage to Jerusalem for big festivals. Could they be included in Jesus’ kingdom? On what grounds? Find answers in John 12v23-24.
9. What stands out to you from v25-26?
10. A few thoughts from Rev. Glen.
‘We are all tempted to use the world’s methods to pursue our own ends, sometimes even to further the king’s causes…
Manipulation: acting in such a way that makes another feel unnecessary guilt, responsibility, or fear… in order to get what you want from them.
Retaliation: personally inflicting a punishment on another- financial, reputational, withdrawal of help or emotional support… because of your hurt.
Gossip: speaking negatively about someone to make yourself appear more likeable, or significant.
When you are tempted to use worldly weapons, how can you choose the king’s way instead? How can you refuse the war horse, and mount the donkey? The donkey of suffering love.
Win by loving and serving. Suffer cost rather than punish others. Know you are significant in Christ so you don’t make yourself feel special by negative comments about others.
When you are tempted to use worldly weapons, how can use choose the king’s way instead?
Refuse the war horse, and mount the donkey of suffering love.’
Write down a few application ideas.
Spend some time in prayer.