The Day the King Came Riding In
Palm Sunday is one of the most exciting days in the Christian calendar—a day filled with shouts of praise, waving branches, and crowds celebrating Jesus as King. It's the beginning of Holy Week, the final seven days of Jesus' life on earth before His death and resurrection.
This guide will help you share the Palm Sunday story with your children, explain what it means, and create memorable family traditions to celebrate this joyful day.
"The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!'"
— John 12:12-13 (NIV)
The Palm Sunday Story
Here's what happened on that first Palm Sunday, nearly 2,000 years ago:
Jesus and His disciples were walking to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Thousands of people had gathered in the city for the celebration. As Jesus approached, He sent two disciples ahead to get a young donkey.
"If anyone asks why you're untying it," Jesus said, "tell them the Lord needs it."
The disciples brought the donkey, laid their cloaks on its back, and Jesus rode it into Jerusalem. This wasn't random—it fulfilled an ancient prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 written 500 years earlier: "See, your king comes to you... gentle and riding on a donkey."
As Jesus rode in, people went wild with excitement! They spread their cloaks on the road like a red carpet for a king. They cut palm branches from trees and waved them, throwing them on the path. And they shouted at the top of their lungs: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
It was a parade for a King. And not just any king—the King they had been waiting for.
💡Why a Donkey, Not a Horse?
In ancient times, a king riding a horse meant he was coming for war. A king riding a donkey meant he was coming in peace. By riding a donkey, Jesus showed He wasn't coming to conquer with weapons but to bring peace with God through His love and sacrifice.
What Does "Hosanna" Mean?
"Hosanna!" The crowds shouted it over and over. But what does it mean?
Hosanna comes from a Hebrew phrase meaning "Save us!" or "Save, we pray!"
The people were crying out to Jesus, recognizing Him as the one who could rescue them. Over time, "Hosanna" also became a shout of praise—like shouting "Yay for Jesus!" or "Praise the King!"
So when people shouted "Hosanna!", they were:
- •Asking Jesus to save them
- •Praising Jesus as their King
- •Celebrating the arrival of the promised Messiah
- •Quoting Psalm 118, a song about God's salvation
"LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD."
— Psalm 118:25-26 (NIV)
Why Palm Branches?
Palm branches were a symbol of victory and celebration in Jewish culture. Waving palms was like waving flags at a victory parade. The people were treating Jesus like a conquering hero!
Palm branches appear again later in the Bible. In Revelation 7:9-10, people from every nation stand before God's throne waving palm branches and shouting, "Salvation belongs to our God!" The palms connect Palm Sunday to the ultimate victory celebration in heaven.
Making Palm Branches
Explaining Palm Sunday by Age
👶Toddlers (Ages 1-3)
Simple version:
"Jesus rode on a donkey into the big city. Everybody was SO happy to see Him! They waved branches like this (wave your hands) and shouted 'Hosanna!' That means 'YAY, JESUS!' Let's shout 'Hosanna!' Jesus is our King!"
Activities:
- •Wave anything green and parade around the house
- •Shout 'Hosanna!' together with big smiles
- •Read a board book about Palm Sunday
- •Clap and sing 'Hosanna, Hosanna!'
👶Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
Story version:
"Jesus was going to Jerusalem for a big celebration. He told His friends to go get a donkey for Him to ride. When Jesus came riding into the city, people were SO excited! They waved palm branches—big green leaves—and threw their coats on the ground like a special carpet for a king.
They shouted, 'Hosanna! Blessed is the King!' Hosanna means 'Save us!' and 'Praise God!' They knew Jesus was special—He was the King God had promised to send!
We celebrate Palm Sunday to remember that Jesus is our King too. We can shout 'Hosanna!' and praise Him just like those people did!"
Activities:
- •Make paper palm branches and have a parade
- •Act out the story with stuffed animals
- •Learn to shout 'Hosanna!' at the right parts of the story
- •Draw Jesus on a donkey with happy people waving
👶Elementary (Ages 6-11)
Fuller explanation:
"Palm Sunday marks Jesus' 'triumphal entry' into Jerusalem—the day He publicly presented Himself as the Messiah, the promised King. Everything about that day was full of meaning:
- •The donkey fulfilled a 500-year-old prophecy (Zechariah 9:9)
- •Spreading cloaks was how people honored royalty
- •Palm branches symbolized victory and joy
- •'Hosanna' comes from Psalm 118—a song about salvation
- •Calling Him 'Son of David' meant they recognized Him as the Messiah
But here's the amazing and sad thing: the same crowds shouting 'Hosanna!' on Sunday would shout 'Crucify Him!' by Friday. They wanted a king who would fight the Romans, not one who would die on a cross. They didn't understand Jesus' mission.
Jesus knew what was coming. He rode in anyway. He accepted their praise knowing He would soon accept their rejection—because He loved them that much."
Discussion Questions:
- •Why do you think the crowds changed their minds so quickly?
- •What kind of king were they expecting vs. what kind of king Jesus is?
- •How can we make sure we don't 'change sides' like the crowd did?
👶Preteens (Ages 10-13)
Deeper discussion:
"Palm Sunday is a story of both celebration and tragedy. Jesus orchestrated His entrance to send a clear message—He was claiming to be the Messiah, the King of Israel. Every detail pointed to it: the donkey, the timing during Passover when Jerusalem was packed, the crowds quoting Messianic psalms.
The religious leaders knew exactly what was happening. Luke 19:39 says the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples. Jesus replied, 'If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.' The truth couldn't be silenced.
But notice what Jesus did next. Luke 19:41-44 says that as He approached Jerusalem, He wept over it. Even as crowds cheered, He cried—because He knew they would reject Him and face terrible consequences.
Questions to consider:
- •Why did Jesus make such a public entrance when He'd often told people to keep quiet about His miracles?
- •The crowds praised Jesus for the wrong reasons (political savior). Do we ever do the same?
- •What does it mean to truly accept Jesus as King—not just as the king we want Him to be?
- •How does Jesus respond to those who will reject Him? (He weeps, not condemns.)
Palm Sunday Family Activities
1. Family Palm Parade
Create palm branches from green paper or collect large leaves from outside. March around your house or yard waving the branches and shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Make it joyful and loud—this was a celebration!
2. Palm Branch Crafts
3. Donkey Ride Reenactment
Use a rocking horse, hobby horse, or even a parent on hands and knees! Have other family members spread blankets on the floor and wave branches as "Jesus" rides through.
4. Hosanna Hunt
Hide palm shapes around the house with letters that spell HOSANNA. Kids find them and put them in order, then shout the word together when complete.
5. Palm Sunday Breakfast
- •Make palm-shaped pancakes (hand-shaped works!)
- •Use green food coloring in eggs or smoothies
- •Read the Palm Sunday story during breakfast
- •Discuss: What will you praise Jesus for today?
6. Decorate Your Door
Just as people spread palms on the road for Jesus, decorate your front door with palm branches or green decorations to welcome the King into your home.
💡Church Traditions
Many churches distribute palm branches on Palm Sunday. If your church does this, save one to fold into a cross or keep displayed until next year. Some churches burn last year's palms to make ashes for Ash Wednesday—connecting the celebration of Palm Sunday to the repentance of Lent.
Common Questions Kids Ask
"Why was everyone so happy?"
The Jewish people had been waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah—the special King God promised to send. When Jesus rode in on a donkey (just like the prophecy said), they believed their King had finally come! They were excited because they thought He would save them from the Romans.
"Why did they change their minds later that week?"
The people wanted a warrior king who would fight the Romans and make Israel powerful again. When Jesus didn't do that—when He let Himself be arrested instead of fighting—they felt disappointed and confused. They didn't understand that Jesus came to fight an even bigger enemy: sin and death.
"Did Jesus know they would turn on Him?"
Yes. Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He knew Judas would betray Him, Peter would deny Him, and the crowds would reject Him. He went to Jerusalem anyway because He loved us and was willing to die for us.
"Why didn't the children get in trouble for being loud?"
In Matthew 21:15-16, children were shouting "Hosanna!" in the temple and the religious leaders were upset. Jesus defended them, saying, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise." God loves children's praise! Never feel like you're too young to worship Jesus.
From Palm Sunday to Easter
Palm Sunday is just the beginning of Holy Week. Here's what comes next:
- •Monday: Jesus clears the temple
- •Tuesday & Wednesday: Jesus teaches and answers questions
- •Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper and Jesus' arrest
- •Good Friday: Jesus is crucified
- •Saturday: Jesus lies in the tomb
- •Easter Sunday: HE IS RISEN!
The palm branches that welcomed Jesus as King on Sunday would be lying in the dust by Friday. But the story didn't end there. The King who came riding on a donkey would conquer death itself and rise again. That's why Easter is such a celebration!
The King Who Kept Coming
💡A Palm Sunday Prayer for Families
Lord Jesus, on this Palm Sunday we shout "Hosanna!"—save us and praise to You! You are our King. Not just a king we want You to be, but the King You truly are—loving, humble, and worthy of all our worship. Help us to follow You not just on the good days but through the whole week, through the hard parts, all the way to the cross and the empty tomb. We wave our branches and lay down our lives before You. Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Amen.
"Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
— Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)