Kingdom Incarnate Part 15

At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Incarnate,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.

We continue our series, ‘Kingdom Incarnate,’ which aims to teach us to see and know Jesus through the Gospels. Last week, we discussed how grace is the party’s theme in Luke 15. This week, we are in Luke 19 and discussing Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem reveals Him as the sovereign King, worthy of our full surrender and joyful praise. The moment calls for a decision—will we welcome Him as Lord or watch Him pass by?

Luke 19:37–40 (NIV)
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, a moment of prophetic fulfillment and powerful revelation. Luke 19:37–40 paints the scene: a joyful crowd praises God as Jesus descends the Mount of Olives, declaring, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Their praise is loud and personal, erupting from lives transformed by miracles and mercy.

Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

But this moment is more than a celebration—it’s a coronation. Jesus is not just entering a city; He reveals Himself as the sovereign King. Riding on a colt, just as Zechariah 9:9 foretold, He presents Himself not with fanfare or force, but in humility and peace. This was no accident. Jesus deliberately chose a donkey’s colt, symbolizing a different kind of kingship marked by gentleness and sacrifice. Unlike the kings of the world who ride warhorses and demand power, Jesus comes lowly, riding borrowed transportation, yet commanding all of heaven’s authority.

The proper response to such a King is praise. The disciples understood this. They laid down cloaks and lifted voices. Their worship was not routine—it was full of joy, rooted in what they had witnessed. When Jesus moves in your life, don’t hold back. Let your praise be joyful and personal. Worship isn’t just for Sundays or sacred spaces—it’s the natural overflow of a heart that knows the living God has touched it.

Luke 19:39–40 (NIV)
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Yet even amid celebration, there is resistance. The Pharisees tried to silence the moment, missing the significance of the Savior’s arrival. Jesus warned that the stones would cry out if the people were silent. Creation knew what was happening, even when hardened hearts did not.

Luke 19:41–42 (NIV)
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

Tragically, many in Jerusalem failed to recognize the time of God’s visitation. Jesus wept over their blindness.

Psalm 24:7–10 (NIV)
7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory.

Palm Sunday invites us to decide: Will we welcome the King or watch Him pass by? Will we open the gates of our hearts wide, as Psalm 24 urges, and allow the King of Glory to come in? He is not just a momentary guest—He is the rightful ruler. Today, let our voices rise in worship and our lives be surrendered. The King has come. Don’t miss Him.

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.