Sermon Notes
Main Theme
We don’t just read about the crowd in Holy Week—we are the crowd.
Our expectations of Jesus often determine our response to Him.
Key Idea
Jesus doesn’t conform to our expectations—He confronts them.
Holy Week Breakdown
Palm Sunday → “Hosanna” (Save us now)
Good Friday → “Crucify Him”
Easter Sunday → “He is risen”
➡️ The same people shifted because Jesus didn’t meet their expectations.
What “Hosanna” Really Meant
A cry for immediate rescue
A desire for personal and political salvation
➡️ The crowd wanted a Savior who would fix their situation—not transform their hearts.
The Problem: Jesus in Our Box
We often shape Jesus into:
Someone who agrees with us
Someone who fits our culture
Someone who supports our goals
➡️ But Jesus is:
Holy
Merciful
Gracious
Compassionate
Above every category we create
We Are the Crowd
We like to think we would’ve stayed loyal—but:
We praise when life makes sense
We question when it doesn’t
We doubt when God is silent
➡️ Our faith often follows our expectations.
The Emotional Progression
When Jesus doesn’t meet expectations:
Excitement → Confusion
Confusion → Disappointment
Disappointment → Frustration
Frustration → Rejection
➡️ “Hosanna” can become “Crucify Him.”
Real-Life Reflections
“Jesus, where are You?”
“Why aren’t You fixing this?”
“Do You even care?”
➡️ These are modern echoes of the same crowd.
The Turning Point
Even with:
Discipline
Effort
Religious activity
➡️ We can still reject Jesus when He doesn’t align with what we want.
The Call
Step out of the crowd.
Stop trying to make Jesus fit your expectations
Start trusting Him for who He is
Key Takeaways
We are more like the crowd than we think
Expectations shape our faith more than we realize
Jesus is not who we want Him to be—He is who He is
Closing Reminder
Sunday is coming.