Powerpoint Pictures: Pictures of parades like Royal Wedding; Team GB medal winners; Diamond Jubilee; Germany Winning World Cup

Can you think of some occasions when people lined the streets and cheered? [Royal Wedding; Team GB Medal Winning Procession; Diamond Jubilee; Germany World Cup Winner Football Team]

The story of how Jesus died begins with a procession and people lining the streets cheering and celebrating.

Many years before Jesus was born, God made a promise to the people of Israel through His prophet Zechariah that when the King who would save them comes, He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.  “Rejoice greatly… Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)

Now the story of how Jesus died begins with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.  The people in Jerusalem got very excited by this.

“Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.  Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:8-9)

The people in Jerusalem lined the streets celebrating because they thought that the King who had come to save them had arrived.

However Jesus was a strange kind of King.  He wasn’t wearing a crown.  He didn’t live in a palace.  He wasn’t surrounded by an army of fighting men.  And we’re going to see Him do things you’d never expect the King to do.