Unmet Expectations
The King We Wanted and The King God Sent
Opening: Zoomed In Activity
Key Insight:
Nothing about the picture changed.
What changed was how much we could see.
Palm Sunday Truth:
People were looking right at Jesus, but seeing only what they expected.
Scripture
Matthew 21:1–9 — The Triumphal Entry
- Cloaks on the road
- Palm branches waved
- Shouts of “Hosanna!”
Hosanna means “Save us”
Son of David means The promised King
Main Point 1 — The King They Expected
- A political rescuer
- A military hero
- Someone to fix their situation quickly
They wanted Jesus to change their circumstances.
Jesus came to change their hearts.
Main Point 2 — The King Who Came
Luke 19:41–42 — Jesus weeps over Jerusalem
- Not angry
- Heartbroken
- They missed God’s moment
Jesus’ Mission (Luke 4:18–19):
- Good news to the poor
- Freedom for prisoners
- Sight for the blind
- Liberation for the oppressed
Bigger than Rome — a victory over sin and death
Expectations vs Reality
| What They Expected | What Jesus Came to Do |
|---|---|
| Beat Rome | Defeat sin and death |
| Change circumstances | Change hearts |
| Rule a throne | Carry a cross |
They wanted a crown, but Jesus came with a cross.
Main Point 3 — From Praise to Disappointment
- “Hosanna” on Sunday
- “Crucify Him” by Friday
Proverbs 13:12
Hope delayed makes the heart sick.
Key Truths:
- Disappointment does not make us bad
- But disappointment can blind us
When expectations collapse, focus shifts to what God is not doing
And we miss what God is doing
The Most Important Thing They Missed
Luke 19:43–44
They did not recognize the time of God’s gracious visit.
They did not miss Jesus because He was not there.
They missed Him because they were looking for the wrong thing.
For Us Today
- We look for answers → God is building trust
- We pray for relief → God is working redemption
- We ask for escape → God offers transformation
We do not want to miss the most important thing God is doing.
Closing Illustration (Ziploc)
Expectation: It will leak
Reality: It does not
Our expectations are logical. They are just not always right.
The Gospel
- The cross looked like failure
- Arrest looked like defeat
- Death looked like the end
What looked like everything falling apart
Was actually how God was saving the world
God is always doing more than I can see.
Family Take Home Thought
Adults:
Am I telling Jesus what He should do, or trusting Him with what He is doing?
Kids:
When I feel sad or confused, I can trust Jesus.
Prayer Practice for the Week
Every night, reflect on your day and pray one of these prayers.
For Children:
“Jesus, thank You for loving me. Help me trust You even when I do not understand.”
For Teens:
“Jesus, I do not always understand what You are doing, but I believe You are good and I want to trust You.”
For Adults:
“God, I do not see everything You are doing, but tonight I choose trust over control and rest in Your goodness.”
