October 18, 2025
The Triumphal Entry
Pastor Ricky Smith

Sermon Notes

Mark 11:1-11
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

I. Jesus Is the Sovereign King Who Plans Every Detail
II. Jesus Is the Humble King Who Fulfills Every Prophecy
III. Jesus Is the Righteous King Who Sees and Weeps

Jesus didn’t ride into Jerusalem to take power — He came to lay down His life and bring peace through the cross.

Next Steps

• I confess my sin and turn to Jesus as King for the first time.
• I choose to surrender control of what feels chaotic and trust Him.
• I commit to pray and point others to Jesus this week as King.

Deep Dive

1. What do we learn from Jesus’ control over the events of Mark 11:1–6? How should this affect how we trust Him today?
2. How does Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44) reflect His heart for sinners?
3. How can we guard against building a Jesus of our own making, shaped more by our expectations than Scripture?

Springboards

1. What does the fig tree teach us about spiritual fruitfulness?
2. Read Matthew 3:10 and James 2:17. How do these deepen our understanding of Jesus’ actions?
3. Why was Jesus so angry about what was happening in the temple?