We celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry
key words
biblical reference
Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-38
lesson objective
To help the children worship God for sending Jesus as our Savior
memory verse
“If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
Why do elementary children praise God? Maybe because you do it or because they observe that everyone in the church does it. But they may not really understand what praise means.
Remember that they tend to imitate the actions of others even if they do not know their meaning. Therefore, in this lesson, teach your children the importance and meaning of praise.
They must learn that we praise someone when we recognize that they did something extraordinary. It is an expression of recognition. Therefore, praising with one’s heart cannot be a secondary feeling.
On the first Palm Sunday, the crowd worshiped God for the miracles they had seen Jesus do. They also praised him because they thought he would free them from Roman rule and establish Israel as an independent nation. However, realizing that this was not Jesus’ mission, their praises became complaints.
As you study this lesson, help your children discover what Jesus did for them to give them salvation and eternal life.
biblical commentary
In Matthew 21:1-11 the triumphal entry into Jerusalem was the end of a busy day for Jesus and his disciples. Jesus had been teaching and healing the sick, and the miracles had attracted a large following. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the hopes regarding the Messiah who would come to set them free were at their highest level.
Jesus came to the holy city as an uncommon king. He did not arrive in a beautiful carriage or on a warhorse. On the contrary, he arrived riding on a donkey and his clothing was not that of a king. There were no royal decorations on the mountain or on the road. However, the people laid down their coats and palm leaves. Jesus was humble and his mission was peaceful. He offered himself as someone who would conquer, not with weapons but with love. The people on the road shouted, “Hosanna!” which means: “Save us, Lord!” They did not know that he would bring true salvation. However, he would not do so by causing suffering to his enemies, but by himself enduring suffering and humiliation.
As Zechariah prophesied: “Behold, your king will come to you, righteous and savior, humble, and riding on an ass” (Zechariah 9:9), the Lord Jesus did not come to Jerusalem to conquer a throne or an empire, but to conquer their hearts.
The city shuddered, but it was not saved. The salvation they expected was political and material. What Jesus offered them was not political or material prosperity, but was spiritual salvation. Therefore, the same people who at that moment shouted “hosanna,” a few days later shouted, “crucify him.”
This lesson will provide you with the opportunity to teach your children that Jesus wants to occupy the throne of their hearts.
introduce the lesson
What is praise?
Ask: Have your children sit in a circle, and ask them: “Do you know what ‘praise’ means?” (allow the children to respond) Then ask: “Why do elementary children praise God?” (allow several children to respond)
Then, say: “Sometimes we imitate the actions of others even when we do not know their meaning. Therefore, in this lesson, teach the importance and meaning of praise. We must learn that we praise someone when we recognize that they did something extraordinary. It is an expression of recognition. Therefore, praising with one’s heart cannot be a secondary feeling. Praise is an expression of love and admiration towards someone special.”
teach the lesson
Praise the Lord!
Sing a song of praise while the children wave palm branches and march around the meeting area. If you do not have branches to wave, allow the children to march around waving other locally available items.
Then, ask the children to sit down to listen to the story.
Instruct them to put their branches on their laps, and then during the story, each time they hear the word “hosanna,” shake they should them.
Before starting the story, show the Bible and tell them: “This is the Bible, the Word of God. We learn to know God better by listening to the stories in this precious book.”
Holy Week is a very beautiful and special time in which we celebrate the surrender of Jesus, the Son of God. In today’s story, we will learn what happened before the first Holy Week, when the children sang and praised Jesus.
The triumphal entry
“Tell us the story of Easter again,” the children asked their father.
“A long time ago, our people were slaves in Egypt,” began the father. “God told Moses to guide us to our land, but Pharaoh did not allow us to leave. Finally, the angel of death passed through Egypt. All the firstborn of the Egyptian families died. Then Pharaoh released us.”
“When will the Romans let us be free?” asked the children.
“Someday a King Messiah will come and deliver us,” said the father. “The Messiah will deliver us from the Romans.”
The people of Jerusalem were enthusiastic. Thousands of Jews had gathered there to celebrate the feast of the Passover. Jesus and his disciples were also heading to Jerusalem for the celebration.
“Go to the next town,” Jesus said to two of his disciples. “Upon entering, you will find a tied up donkey that was never ridden. Untie it and bring it.”
Jesus needed the donkey for a special reason. A long time ago, the prophet Zechariah said that the king of Jerusalem would arrive peacefully, riding on a donkey. As Jesus had told them, the disciples found the donkey. Then they put their cloaks on him and took him away. Then, they helped Jesus get on the donkey, and they traveled the road to Jerusalem.
When they saw Jesus approaching, some people spread their coats on the road. Soon the crowd became aware of the presence of the Lord.
“Is not he the man who has done so many miracles?” they asked each other.
“Yes it is he! Look, he is coming to Jerusalem! Do you think he is the promised Messiah?”
Immediately the people began to praise God with joy for all the miracles they had seen, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! Hosanna!”
Many went to cut palm branches, and put them along the way. And, as Jesus passed, many exclaimed, “Hosanna, Hosanna!”
connect the lesson
Hosanna!
Print Student Activity Sheet #172-A and #172-B back to back. Then have the students cut off the top strip along the dashed line. Tell them to fold the sheet next to the solid lines.
Then, trim the figure of Jesus along the dashed lines and glue/tape the bottom together. Move the figure through the crowd, to review the story of Palm Sunday.
Praise mural
During the week, prepare illustrations about different ways that children can praise God in their daily lives. Include scenes of children who help their parents, pray, sing praises, read the Bible, etc. Show them to the group and tell them that they can praise God in different ways. Ask them to stick the illustrations on the wall or somewhere that you indicate.
practice the memory verse
Ask your children to look up the memory verse (Romans 10:9) and read it aloud. After repeating it several times (by rows, by groups, only boys, only girls, etc.), ask some volunteers to say it from memory. Hand out the Month’s Verse Club cards for review at home. Ask parents to study with their children during the week.
wrap-up
Pray
Form two circles, and assign a prayer leader for each. Have each group to receive the prayer needs and intercede for them.
At the end, lead them in a united prayer. Do not forget to include the petitions, and encourage your children to praise God every day.
Encourage
Make sure children take home their work, and thank them for attending the meeting.
Invite
Announce something about the next lesson, trying to make a connection and awakening the interest so that they do not miss. Tell them that their friends are also welcome.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™