Dear Parents,
This week we began our Easter series at Restore Kids! It is a short 2 weeks series, beginning with Jesus's Triumphal Entry (check out our recap below) and ending with the Crucifixion and Resurrection. In addition, this weekend to celebrate Palm Sunday the children will have an opportunity to walk through the church carrying palm fronds before heading to their classrooms. Please be on time so your child doesn't miss out!
Make note that Easter Sunday, April 16, is a family worship day so we will only have childcare available for children under 3. We will provide crayons and coloring sheets for the rest of the children to use during service.
Lastly, please stop by the check in Kiosk this weekend and fill out a form updating your children's information. We need to make sure every family gets entered into our new system.
In His Service,
Christi Mulder
JESUS's TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19
Main Point: People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King.
Key Passage: Romans 10:9
Big Picture Question: Who saves us from our sin? Only Jesus saves us from our sin.
NEXT WEEK “Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection” (Matthew 26:36–28:10; John 18:1–20:18)
LESSON RECAP
The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday—the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King of kings the week of Passover. Many of God’s people traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem as well. Near Bethphage (BETH fayj) and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead into a village to bring a donkey to Him.
Jesus made a spectacular entrance into the city. He rode the donkey, and people laid palm branches and their robes on the ground in front of Him. The people welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem believed He was the promised Messiah, but they expected Him to overthrow Roman oppression and set up an earthly throne. Jesus sent a different message.
The next day, Jesus entered the temple and turned over the tables of the money changers and those selling doves. Jesus referred to Isaiah 56:7, declaring that His kingship would not just be over the Jews but over all people. While Jesus was in the temple, He healed the blind and the lame. Jesus’ actions declared, “I am not just your King; I am also your God” (Isa. 35:4-6).
Finally, the priests and the scribes heard the children in the temple worshiping Jesus as their King. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked. Jesus replied, quoting Psalm 8:2. Jesus gladly received their praise because He was worthy of their praise. Jesus is the Son of God who came to overthrow sin and set up an eternal throne. During Jesus’ triumphal entry, the people welcomed Him as King. Jesus was the Messiah spoken about by the prophet Zechariah: “Look, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). One day, Jesus will return to earth on a white horse as King over everything. (Revelation 19:11)
As you prepare for and celebrate Easter, help your kids connect the dots between God’s promises of a Messiah and Jesus’ coming. Help them understand why Jesus came: to save the world from sin!