Jesus Knows How to Make an Entrance – Family Devotion – April 11, 2022

Read: Luke 19:28-40

As Jesus went along, people spread their cloaks on the road… and the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:36-38

Jesus Knows How to Make an Entrance

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This week is very special, so special that it has a special name: Holy Week. It begins with a day called Palm Sunday. That’s the day Jesus made a grand entrance to begin his work to defeat our enemies. Jesus told two of his disciples to go ahead and find a young donkey that no one had ever ridden. “Bring it back,” Jesus said. So they went and found it… just as Jesus told them.

Remember another grand entrance of Jesus into our world—at Christmas? There was a census decree that everyone was to register in their hometown, including Mary and Joseph. While there, she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger. Remember the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks who heard the angel announce, “Christ is born in Bethlehem”? Remember the sign? “You’ll find him lying in a manger.” So the shepherds hurried and found it… just as they were told, just like the disciples found the young donkey… just as they were told.

Jesus enters as a humble baby, and now he enters as a humble king. Two grand but humble entrances, both to shouts of praise!

• A glorious company of angels announcing: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!”
• A great crowd with palm branches shouting: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven! And glory in the highest!”

You praise the cook after a great meal. But Jesus deserves the highest level of praise—the kind only given to God. Why? Because people saw things done that no one else could do: Jesus gave new ears to deaf people, new legs to those who’d never walked, new life to the dead, and he forgave people their sins!

Two grand entrances. Two concerts of praise. All for one long-awaited King who arrives this week to defeat our enemies… just as he told us. But instead of fighting them, he surrenders himself to them. Jesus knows that’s the only way he could defeat them.

Praise the King this Holy Week! What he does is not for himself, but for you.

Closing Prayer:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Dear Jesus, during this Holy Week, help us think of you more than we ever have before. When we do, we will have so many reasons to give you our praise! Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is the special name for this week?
• What should we do to welcome Jesus as our King?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Name two important grand entrances Jesus made for us.
• Explain the importance of both of those entrances.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Name up to three enemies that Jesus intended to fight for us during Holy Week.
• Explain why Jesus had to surrender to our enemies in order to defeat them for us.