“All one In Christ”
THE UNITED CHURCH OF ZAMBIA
SYNOD MISSION AND EVANGELISM DEPARTMENT
THEME: UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES & WHAT TO DO (1
CHRONICLES12:32)
2025 PALM SUNDAY SERMON OUTLINE
13TH APRIL,2025
SUB THEME: JESUS AS KING
BIBLE READINGS: ISAIAH 11:1-5, LUKE 19:28-40
INTRODUCTION
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, on which Christ's entry into
Jerusalem is celebrated in many Christian churches by processions in
which branches of palms are carried. In the Protestant Tradition, this is
most and widely accepted Holy Week signifying the beginning of the
passion week of Christ leading to His death and subsequent resurrection.
In society, Kings are very important guests; they need serious
preparation to receive them when they visit. You will mostly first receive a
notice of their coming through aligned mode of communications. There
has to be purpose for the king to visit you or your visit to the king. The
schedules are planned, surrounding cleaned, litter cleared up, guests are
scrutinized at entry by security and protocols are implemented. This is
accomplished by formal entry known as the Royal entry. During this time
the king is greeted and paid appropriate homage, this is followed by a
feast. This year’s Palm Sunday will be celebrated under the theme JESUS
AS KING. According to smith’s Bible dictionary the word “king” in the
Bible is applied to God as the sovereign and ruler of the universe
and to Christ the son of God as the head and governor of the
church.
BIBLE EXPLAINATION
Isaiah prophesied the Messiah to come from the David’s line and shall
possess the following; that the spirit of the Lord shall be upon Him,
wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of God will
rest upon Him. He will delight in obeying the Lord, not judge by
appearance or make decisions based on hearsays. He shall make fair
decisions for the exploited and the earth shall shake at the force of his
word and the breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He shall wear
righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.
In the gospel of Luke, the author narrates how Jesus Christ sent the
disciples Peter and John to untie the colt at the entrance of the village. He
told the disciples that if anyone asked why you were untying it, you just
say the Lord needs it. And as the disciples were untying the colt the
owners said to them why loose the colt? and they said the Lord needs it.
And they brought the colt and they casted their garments upon the colt
and Jesus climbed on it. And as He went, they spread their clothes in the
way. The large crowd started rejoicing and praising God “Blessed be the
king who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and
glory in the highest.”
Then the pharisees from the multitude said to him, Master rebuke your
disciples. He answered and said to them I tell you that if these should hold
their peace stones would immediately cry out.
POINT FOR REFLECTION
1. JESUS AS KING
A king is an embodiment of power, authority and glory. Jesus is above all
rulers of the earth. Jesus is the only eternal King whose reign has no end.
The spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge
and fear of God rests upon Him. He delights in obeying the Lord, does not
judge by appearance or make decisions based on hearsays. He makes fair
decisions for the exploited and the earth shake at the force of His word
and the breath from His mouth destroy wicked.
He wears righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. What a
King to save! He is sovereign even the stones and problems obey Him. He
is fair and just. No one sides to this king and loses any battle. His Kingdom
is powerful and united, it has no end.
If human being fails to recognize and acknowledge Jesus, nature bears
witness to God’s power and presence. In our attempt to walk with God on
His journey calvary, not all of the people who shouted in praise to knew he
was a King because a demonstrated the nature of a Servant King riding on
a donkey and not a chariot of horses. Let us turn to God with open hearts
and let the King of glory come in to conquer the evil in or hearts and the
foregn gods we have emabraced.
2.TRUST KING JESUS
Today’s rulers, especially those in authority often arrive in massive
motorcades with police escort, media and official entourages. Jesus
however arrived in Bethany and Bethpage in preparation for triumphal
entry with none. Instead, He comes humbly and on foot, a Saviour of the
people walking among His own as an ordinary man. The manner of Jesus’
arrival reminds us that He is not just the God of the high and mighty, but
the God of the lowly, needy, the oppressed, the down trodden, the
burdened, the despairing and the hurting.
He is the king who sees all people, loves all people and came to offer all
those who would place their faith and trust in him, the hope of
forgiveness.
He is the source of joy, source of strength in times pain, redemption and
eternal salvation. We must believe in King Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith.
He is a humble King who provided clear, direct and compassionate
guidance. Jesus is not a King who came to arbitrarily dictate, unfairly
punish or harshly oppress His followers but who came help even the
weakest of the weak to find dignity and value in Him.
As we look at the bad economy being experienced by our own nation and
the world at large, no can solve the economic crisis being experienced but
we can trust the King Jesus to find the right systems and policies to
champion economic emancipation. Do you find your heart burdened,
weary, fearful and despairing of trials and difficulties that seem to
overwhelm our world in this current age?
The answer is found in trusting king Jesus. Just raise your palm in your
hand and shout hosannah because a palm is the symbol of victory. This
is why Jesus said “come to me all who labor and are heavy laden
and will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your
souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Mathew 11:28-
30. What Jesus seeks is our faith, devotion and dedication.
3.DON’T BE DISTRACTED BY THE DECEPTION OF HUMAN PRAISE
Every king rule with power, glory and honour but they still have subjects
who go way ward and sometimes rebel to the rule of the king. The mission
and goal of the King to rule, expand his influence through conquering new
territories, make the kingdom food-secure, and provide adequate security
and oversight over his people and resources. No wonder all kingdoms
have got have rules or decrees, system and structures of governance. The
people who were shouting on top of their voices would one day change
their minds and shout to Roman authorities to have Jesus arrested and
crucified because they felt he was an imposter and shuttered the hopes of
the people-we thought you were the one who would rescue Israel
they would say.
During this triumphant entry into Jerusalem, there was an opposition
demanding that Jesus tells the crowds shouting in honour of him to stop
and be quiet, this is the more reason Jesus said, if they stopped shouting,
stones will burst open in praise.
Jesus never intended to put up a show, he never intended to impress the
crowds but demonstrated that He had come like in the old days of king
David’s triumph and victory to redeem man kind from the grip of sin,
death and Satan once and for all and to overthrow the kingdom of
darkness. Do not be stuck and massaged by human praise, people change
depending on the situation but the King remains forever.
In a world seemly full of darkness, fear and despair where people just
show a smile but the hearts are full of deadly poison, where human beings
can betray and disappoint you, where people promise you and forget their
promises. We praise God because we have a Servant King-who
sympathize with our weakness, a humble and caring King Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Jesus as King entails us that Jesus is sovereign. This means that Jesus is
the greatest, he has power to give orders to both human beings and
nature to understand and obey Him and this the same authority that we
have in Him as His subjects and co-heirs. He enjoins all who believe in Him
to be of one mind and heart in the bond of the spirit. He establishes
justice, peace and righteousness, no evil will go unpunished and protects
His people from all enemies. Jesus unites us, punishes all wrong, works all
things together for good and God has given Him authority in heaven and
on earth. Therefore, if you feel you need this king Jesus just humble
yourself , come to Him and accept Him as Lord and saviour and proceed
to shout a shout of victory..
AMEN
THE MISSION AND EVANGELISM DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO THANK
REV. HENRY SICHAMBA OF ST PAULS CONGREGATION, MANSA NORTH
CONSISTORY, LUAPULA PRESBYTERY
FOR PREPARING 2025 PALM SUNDAY SERMON. FOR
FURTHER DETAILS GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MISSION & EVANGELISM
DEPARTMENT ON THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS:
0977-753 999/ 0978- 961 329/0955-883 221
