Palm Sunday: Who Is This?

“When He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’” — Matthew 21:10

Introduction

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, a deeply sacred moment in the Christian calendar when we journey with Christ from celebration to sacrifice, from triumph to the cross, and ultimately to the victory of the empty tomb. It is a moment filled with both joy and reflection, celebration and anticipation.

On that remarkable day, Jesus entered Jerusalem to the sound of cheers, the waving of palm branches, and garments spread along His path. The atmosphere was charged with excitement and expectation. It was a moment of visible honor and public recognition, yet in the midst of all the celebration, a profound question echoed throughout the city: “Who is this?”

This question did not remain in first century Jerusalem. It has echoed through the generations and continues to resound today, in our cities, in our homes, and in the quiet spaces of our hearts. People are still asking: Who is this Jesus?

Is He merely a historical figure, a wise teacher, or a prophet among many? Or is He truly the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, and the Lord over all creation?

Palm Sunday invites each of us not only to consider this question but to answer it personally, intentionally, and with conviction.

 

Experiencing Him Through Obedience

The events of Palm Sunday did not unfold by coincidence; they were the result of intentional obedience. Jesus instructed His disciples to go into a nearby village and bring Him a donkey, and Scripture records that, “the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them” (Matthew 21:6). There was no hesitation, no argument, and no delay. They simply obeyed.

Their obedience fulfilled prophecy, as declared in Zechariah: “Your King is coming to you, lowly and riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). What may have seemed like a simple instruction carried divine significance.

This reveals a powerful truth: we experience Jesus most deeply through obedience. Often, we are tempted to replace God’s instructions with our own preferences or reasoning. The disciples could have chosen what seemed more appropriate in human terms, a horse instead of a donkey, but they resisted the urge to improve on God’s plan. They followed His word exactly.

In the same way, many believers today struggle to fully experience Christ because their obedience is partial, delayed, or conditional. Yet, when we listen to Him and obey Him wholeheartedly, we begin to encounter His presence in a real and transformative way.

Our lives begin to reflect His power, His peace, and His grace. And when others see this transformation, they cannot help but ask, “Who is this?”

 

Extolling Him Through Praise

As Jesus made His way into Jerusalem, the atmosphere shifted into one of exuberant praise. The crowd lifted their voices, declaring, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” -(Matthew 21:9).

This was not a quiet or reserved moment; it was a passionate outpouring of worship.

The reason for their praise was deeply personal. Many in the crowd had experienced the power of Jesus firsthand.

Blind Bartimaeus had received his sight, Lazarus had been raised from the dead. The lame had been healed, and the broken had been restored. These were not distant stories; they were living testimonies walking among the crowd.

Because of what they had seen and experienced, their praise overflowed naturally.

Today, we have even greater reason to extol Him. We have experienced the greatest miracle of all, salvation through His death and resurrection. Once we were dead in sin, but now we are alive in Christ. We have been redeemed, restored, and given new life.

Yet, it is possible for the fire of our praise to grow dim. For some, worship has become routine, quiet, or even absent.

Palm Sunday calls us back to a place of joyful, expressive, and heartfelt praise. When we truly remember what Christ has done, how He saved us, sustained us, and brought us through difficult seasons, our response cannot be silence.

It must be worship. And when our lives are marked by genuine praise, the world around us begins to notice and ask once again, “Who is this?”

Extending Him Through Our Witness

The crowd on that first Palm Sunday did not only experience Jesus and praise Him; they also shared Him. When the curious asked, “Who is this?” they responded boldly, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11).

They did not keep their encounter to themselves; they extended it to others.

This reminds us that our faith is not meant to be hidden. Christianity is not a private experience; it is a life meant to be lived and shared.

When Jesus transforms your life, your life becomes a testimony. When He restores your family, gives you peace in the midst of trials, delivers you from struggles, or brings hope in seasons of despair, your story becomes an answer to someone else’s question.

People may not immediately read the Bible, but they will read your life.

And as you share your story through your words, your actions, and your character, others will begin to ask, “Who is this… that has changed you so deeply?”

In that moment, you have the opportunity to point them to the truth and declare with confidence: “This is Jesus.”

Conclusion

Palm Sunday is more than a historical remembrance; it is a spiritual invitation. It calls each of us to pause and reflect deeply on one defining question: Who is Jesus to you?

Not to the crowd.
Not to history.
But to you.

When we truly experience Him through obedience, extol Him through sincere praise, and extend Him through our daily witness, something powerful begins to happen. God moves not only in our lives, but in our homes, our communities, and our nation.

Lives are changed. Hearts are stirred.

And once again, the question rises: “Who is this?”

May our lives provide the answer, not only in words but in truth and in power: “This is Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, and the Lord of my life.”

 

Stay Blessed!

Please note that the preaching program on Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays at 5:30 am has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays at 5:30 am and YFM 107.9 – Sundays at 6:30 am for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm for Hymns and Their Stories.

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