He Knew and He Still Came
Introduction
Welcome: Welcome to Prepper Church on this Palm Sunday. Today, we focus on what it meant for Jesus to enter Jerusalem knowing exactly what lay ahead. He wasn’t caught off guard. He knew He would be rejected, betrayed, and crucified. He could have walked away—but He didn’t. That’s the kind of Savior we serve.
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for this day and for the powerful example of Jesus’ obedience. Help us understand the depth of His decision to enter Jerusalem, knowing what was coming. Let us learn from His strength, His surrender, and His sacrifice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture Readings:
Matthew 26:39 (AMP): And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Media
Message: He Knew—and He Still Came
I. Jesus Walked Into Suffering on Purpose
Palm Sunday is often seen as a celebration, but it was also the beginning of the hardest week in human history. Jesus knew what was ahead. He could have stayed away. He could have avoided the cross. But He didn’t. He went anyway—for us.
II. Jesus Had the Power to Escape
This wasn’t a helpless victim. This was the Son of God with all authority. At any moment, Jesus could have stopped the process. He didn’t. He stayed the course, not because He had to, but because He chose to.
III. Cultural Comparisons Help Us See the Difference
Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark (Iron Man) makes the ultimate sacrifice by wielding the Infinity Stones to defeat Thanos, fully aware that this act will cost him his life. His decision is driven by love and the desire to save humanity.
Unlike Jesus, Tony Stark doesn't possess the power to avoid death once he decides to act. Jesus, conversely, had the authority to prevent His crucifixion but chose to take the cross.
Harry Potter in The Deathly Hallows: Harry willingly walks into the Forbidden Forest to face Voldemort, accepting death to protect his friends and ultimately defeat evil.
An important difference here is that Harry's knowledge of the outcome is limited, and his sacrifice, while noble, doesn't carry the same foreknowledge and authority that Jesus had regarding His death and resurrection.
Another important difference: Harry Potter was practicing witchcraft... don't do that!
The 1916 Cumberland vs. Georgia Tech Football Game. Unlike the other examples, this is a true story. Cumberland College--a small school not only then but also today--had discontinued its football program at the end of the 1915 season. However, Georgia Tech coach John Heisman insisted that Cumberland honor their contract to play a game or pay a financial penalty of $3,000 (about $87,000 in 2024).
Having no team, Cumberland's baseball student manager George Allen was tasked with assembling a team to make the trip. He recruited his fraternity brothers, who all traveled to Atlanta where they were brutally defeated by 222 to 0. It still stands as the most lopsided score in college football history.
Cumberland's participation was under duress, and they lacked the means to change the outcome. In contrast, Jesus had the power to alter His fate but chose to endure suffering out of love and obedience.
Only Jesus knew everything, had full power, and still chose to show up.
IV. Why Did Jesus go to Jerusalem?
He obeyed the Father. Jesus didn’t come to Earth to carry out His own mission—He came to fulfill the will of the Father. His journey to Jerusalem was not driven by popularity or pressure but by obedience. Even in the Garden, as He faced the weight of the cross, He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” That obedience wasn’t passive—it was active, intentional, and unwavering.
He loved us enough to follow through. Jesus didn’t just talk about love—He proved it. He followed through all the way to the cross. He didn’t quit when it became painful. He didn’t hesitate when betrayal came. He didn’t run when the crowds turned. His love wasn’t just emotional—it was sacrificial. He stayed committed, even when the cost was His life.
He came to save us—and He didn’t flinch when it got hard. Jesus knew that saving us would mean suffering, rejection, and death. Still, He came. Still, He walked that road. He didn’t pull back or look for a way out. He endured the cross, scorning its shame, because our salvation was worth it to Him. That’s the kind of Savior we have—one who knew exactly what it would take, and didn’t flinch.
Conclusion
Palm Sunday is more than palm branches and praise. It’s a reminder that Jesus made a deliberate choice to walk into suffering, betrayal, and death—for us. He showed up. He stayed the course. Let us honor that sacrifice by being people who also show up when God calls us—especially when it’s hard.
Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for not turning away. Thank You for showing up for us. Help us to be people who respond to Your call with the same courage and faith. May we never take Your obedience and love for granted. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions
Here are some questions to prompt discussion after the service.
- What is meant by Jesus when He prayed, "Father if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me" ?
- What does it mean to you that Jesus knew what was coming and still came?
- How do we respond when we see hard things ahead?
- Are there ways we can be more faithful in following God’s call, even when it costs us something?
- Read up on the Cumberland-Georgia Tech football game from 1916. Would the game have been played today?
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