Temporary Praise or Eternal Adoration? (Palm Sunday 2026)
Description
In this Palm Sunday message from Brady Randall, Revelation 7:9–17 reveals what the crowds waving palms never fully grasped: Jesus came not to overthrow enemies, but to conquer sin and death through sacrifice. Discover how his finished work offers shelter, satisfaction, and solace—and how that eternal praise can begin in your life today.
Message Summary
Every Palm Sunday, Christians around the world remember the moment Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by waving palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna." It's a triumphant scene — but Brady argues in his message from Revelation 7:9–17 that if we stop at Palm Sunday, we're missing the full picture. The crowd that day expected a conquering king who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel's glory. What they didn't understand — and what we so easily miss today — is that Jesus came to conquer something far greater.
We All Bring Expectations to Jesus
Before diving into Revelation, Brady invites us to examine what we actually expect from Jesus. The Palm Sunday crowd was a mixed group: genuine disciples who misunderstood his mission, religious leaders who saw him as a threat, and ordinary people who wanted Jesus to make their lives better while they stayed in the driver's seat. These expectations led to one of history's most jarring reversals — many of the same people shouting "Hosanna" on Sunday were shouting "Crucify him" by Friday.
We're not so different. Some of us treat Jesus as an addition to our lives rather than the center. Others see him as a moral teacher, a cosmic killjoy, or a self-improvement resource. Brady challenges us to look past our assumptions and ask the question that matters most: Who do you say Jesus is?
The Crowd Then and the Crowd Forever
The contrast between the two crowds — one on the road to Jerusalem, one in Revelation 7 — is striking. The Palm Sunday crowd was finite, divided, and fleeting. The crowd in Revelation is something else entirely: "A multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9).
This eternal gathering is marked by breathtaking diversity and breathtaking unity — people of every language, background, and skin tone, united in a single act of worship. Brady observes that this ought to reframe our in-house church disagreements: "When we finally see Jesus face to face, I wonder whether any of that will matter — or whether all that will matter is the overwhelming praise that Jesus is so worthy of."
The Problem Bigger Than Our Enemies
The palm branches in both scenes carry the same symbolism — victory and triumph. But victory over what? The Palm Sunday crowd thought their greatest problem was Rome. Brady draws the comparison directly to our own moment: "Some of us today think the biggest problem we face is the other person, the other political group, or maybe our relational or financial difficulties."
But the message of Palm Sunday — and of the cross it was leading toward — is that our deepest problem is sin. We are born into it, surrounded by it, and we contribute to it. That separation from God is eternal in its consequence. That is precisely why Jesus rode toward Jerusalem with such resolve. "The Lamb's blood — his blood — is what washes those robes white. His death made that possible."
Jesus also doesn't promise his followers a trouble-free life. Echoing John 16:33 — "In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" — Brady reminds us that God's promise isn't exemption from difficulty, but security within it. "If you are in Christ, you will not be kept from tribulation, but you will be kept safe in the midst of it, because Jesus holds on to you."
What God Provides: Shelter, Satisfaction, and Solace
Revelation 7:15–17 paints the final destination that Palm Sunday was always pointing toward. Brady organizes God's provision around three promises:
Shelter — "He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence" (v. 15). The word "shelter" echoes the same word John uses in John 1 for the Word dwelling among us. One day, those in Christ will stand before their Maker fully and finally — unencumbered by sin and brokenness.
Satisfaction — Verse 16 promises no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. But this isn't only a future promise. "He promises to be your shepherd now. You will not have everything you want, but you will have everything you need. And everything you need is ultimately found in Jesus."
Solace — "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (v. 17). Brady draws attention to the intimacy of this image — how close you have to be to someone to wipe their tears. "He promises that for all the hardships you have been through, all the brokenness you have experienced, all the loss — God will one day wipe away every tear. All sad things will one day be made untrue."
Eternal Praise Starting Now
The sevenfold doxology of Revelation 7:10–12 — "Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever" — represents the complete and eternal worship that Jesus is truly worthy of. What the Palm Sunday crowd offered was partial. What Revelation depicts is the real thing.
And Brady's invitation is that this praise doesn't have to wait for heaven. "Worship is not just singing. Worship is a heart and life response to who God is, what he has done, and what he promises to do when he comes back." If you know Jesus, eternal praise can begin today — and one of the most powerful expressions of it is inviting someone else into that throne room scene.
Questions for Reflection
When life gets difficult, what do your expectations of Jesus reveal about how you actually see him — as Savior and Lord, or as someone meant to make your life more comfortable?
Who in your life needs to hear the good news that their robes can be washed white? What is one step you can take this week to share what Jesus has done?
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Scripture Reading: Revelation 7:9–17
Well, good morning. Today is Palm Sunday, and in churches all across the world, we're celebrating the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey as he was headed towards the cross. And we see palm branches that are being spread. Today I want to look at another scene in Revelation, chapter 7. This is also a scene that has palm branches, and this is a scene I believe is where all of history is headed.
And so let's now hear and respond as we receive the word of the Lord from Revelation chapter 7, starting in verse 9:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and they worshiped God, saying, "Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are those who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God. They serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
Never again will they hunger. Never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
This is the word of the Lord.
Opening Prayer
And at this time, I want to invite you to pray. Would you pray for me, that God would fill me with his Holy Spirit for the words that you need to hear today? Would you pray for yourself, that God would speak to you? And would you also pray for your neighbor, that God would open up his or her mind so that we might see and respond to King Jesus today?
Would you join me in prayer?
Father God, I think of that throne room scene right now—seated on the throne, you are receiving the praise that you are so worthy of. God, I pray that today you would prepare our hearts to receive the words that you have for us. You promised, God, that your word would not return void, but it would accomplish all that you intend and purpose. So would you do that in all of our lives? Remove all distractions, that we might see and be drawn to Jesus today. And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
When Expectations Aren't Met
When you and I have expectations that aren't met, we are bound to be disappointed. It might be that you're a huge baseball fan, and you were looking all offseason to the first game of the year. Your ace is on the mound. The offense—the newly found offense—is going to score you seven runs, and you still lose the game. Not that we know anything about that around here.
I think about a time when I was in my 20s. This was before kids, and I had heard of the Harlem Globetrotters. I had seen the highlight reels, the dunks, the tricks, and I thought, this looks really entertaining. And so I went to the arena, I purchased tickets, and when I got there, I realized I was not the intended audience. It was very entertaining, but it was meant for kids and for teenagers and for families.
And I especially realized that I was not the intended audience when we got to the halftime show. And this was the halftime show: there was a Chunky Noodle Soup mascot, and it was eating and cannibalizing other Chunky Noodle Soup. And I'm sitting there and I'm watching this scene unfold, and I just started laughing hysterically. And let me tell you, I was entertained, but this was not what I was expecting.
You know, I think this happens with people, too. We're looking forward to meeting someone. Maybe it's a first date, and you get there, and it's like, this person is not who I thought they were. Or maybe you meet your hero for the very first time—what you thought was your hero—and it turns out that you were disappointed. They're not who you thought they were.
Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
And I think the same thing happens when we place an expectation on Jesus—that many of us come to an idea of who Jesus is and what he's about and what he accomplishes. And what we find out is Jesus is altogether someone different than maybe we initially thought.
You know, every person has an opinion on who Jesus is. Some say that Jesus is the savior of the world. Some say that Jesus was a good and moral teacher. Some say that Jesus was a conspiracy theorist. Others say that he's a hindrance and should be murdered. But the question for you and I is: who do you say that Jesus is?
I remember when I was in seminary, and a friend of mine—we were studying the same Bible, we were in the same classes—and he and I reached totally different conclusions as to who Jesus was and what his purpose was.
And I think about today, like today on Palm Sunday, when the crowd that greeted Jesus, who was coming into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey—they had different expectations of who Jesus was. And in that crowd of people, you had different people. You had genuine followers of Jesus, his own disciples, who misunderstood what his ultimate mission was. You had professed believers who were looking forward to what Jesus was going to do.
And I think about some of us today. Some of us, we view Jesus as an addition—someone who we want to add to our lives, but we still want to be in the driver's seat. We want Jesus to come in, make our lives better, make our relationships better, heal our sicknesses, but we still want to be in control.
And then there's some of us today who are like the Pharisees. And we see Jesus as a hindrance to fun in our lives. We see Jesus more like a cosmic killjoy. His Bible is a book of rules just trying to hinder our best life. And so maybe we want rid of Jesus, or we want to be on the throne of our own lives.
The Palm Sunday Scene: Matthew 21
But today, what I want us to do is I want us to see Palm Sunday. But what I really want us to see is what Palm Sunday is ultimately pointing to. In Matthew, chapter 21—the Palm Sunday account is written in all four Gospels—but here's what we read. In chapter 21 of Matthew, starting in verse 7:
They brought the donkey and colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred. And they asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
So here's this scene—Jesus coming on the donkey. They have palm branches for victory and triumph, and they're waving. They're saying "Hosanna," which means "Lord, save us. Please save us." And here they are, all this group of people, not knowing what is about to come. And what they thought was that Jesus was going to come, get rid of their enemies, and conquer by force. But what Jesus did instead was to come to conquer by sacrifice.
And what I want us to do is take a look at both of these scenes—Revelation chapter 7 and Palm Sunday—to see the similarities and the differences, and to show us that you and I are not just meant for the temporary praise of what we want Jesus to do for us and for our agendas, but what we were ultimately made for was the eternal praise of Revelation chapter 7.
A Word on Revelation
And to do that, we have to look at Revelation. What I realized is I may have made a mistake. It is very difficult to jump into the middle of any book, let alone a book like Revelation that has so many different interpretations. In fact, how you interpret and read Revelation will determine how you see Revelation chapter 7. And so, that I don't get into the weeds of all that, I want to invite you to go back about a year ago on Orchard Hill Plus—Pastor Kurt did a great podcast on the Rapture and views of the Rapture, so you can see more about that.
But suffice it to say, in verses 1 through 8, we see John, who's the author of Revelation, and he hears the number of 144,000. I think it's representative of the 12 tribes of Israel times 12—144 times 1,000. And I think this is the real people of God, the true Israel. So he hears 144,000, and I think then we have a different vantage point of the same group of people where he sees the multitude.
Now, let me get on my soapbox for just one minute, because I know some of us in this room are like, "Revelation—I don't know." Some of us are very, very passionate about how exactly the end of the world is going to take place—when Jesus comes, what's going to happen right before it, what's going to happen after it. How long? Is it a literal thousand years? Is it symbolic? And we get really passionate about how this is going to be.
And can I just say that however it takes place, you and I are as close to the return of Christ today as we have ever been before. And Jesus is going to come back. And how exactly it transpires, to me, is not all that significant. Meaning, it might be the way you think. It might be the way I think. But here's the bottom line: Jesus is coming, and we better be ready. Because that day may be a thousand years, it may be tomorrow, but Jesus is coming, and we better be ready.
And I digress from my soapbox, but here we go back into Revelation 7.
Two Crowds: Palm Sunday and Revelation 7
So I want us to notice the differences and the similarities of the crowds of people. In Palm Sunday, we see a mixed group of people—mixed with genuine followers and disciples of Jesus. We see people who are antithetical to the ways of Jesus with the Pharisees. We see people who are professed believers, but they only want what Jesus can do for them. And interestingly enough, this crowd that was saying "Hosanna"—praise God, here comes King Jesus—the question for me is: where was that same group of people come a few days later, on Friday? And whether it was some people in the crowd or not, that crowd at that time shouted, "Crucify!" And so where is King Jesus? He's about to be crucified. So you have this mixed group of people, a finite group of people on Palm Sunday.
But compare that to the crowd we see in Revelation chapter 7. Starting in verse 9, here's what we read:
After this I looked, and there before me was a multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and they were holding palm branches in their hands.
And again, I think that this group represents the people of God that God has saved for himself and made secure until the end of time. But minimally, what this group represents, depending on your interpretation, is it represents believers in Jesus who have been washed clean and have white robes. And now they're in this heavenly scene in heaven, with all the angels standing around the throne, and they're praising God.
And notice—this group of people is a diverse group of people. People from every tongue and tribe and language. People who speak English and Chinese and Swahili, people with all various different skin colors, now around the throne of God, but they are unified in the praise of God. And I just imagine that scene. To me, that's very instructive for us, because I think about, especially even within the church, all the things that we get really fired up about, all the arguments that we have. And I wonder, when it comes to this scene—when we're finally seeing Jesus face to face—if all that's really going to matter, or what will matter will be the cacophony of praise that Jesus is so worthy of.
And so here is Jesus in the scene—diversity of people, unified in their worship of King Jesus.
Where Jesus Sits: From Donkey to Throne
But what I also want us to notice next is where Jesus sits in both accounts. On Palm Sunday, notice where Jesus is seated. He's seated on a donkey, representing humility. And Jesus' life and ministry was one of humility. When Jesus first came to the earth from heaven, he came as a baby boy, born not in a castle but in the feeding trough of animals. And in Jesus' ministry, sometimes he had no place to lay his head at night. And so here is Jesus in humility, coming to give his life away on the cross.
But then notice where Jesus is seated in Revelation 7. He's seated on a throne. Verse 10:
And they cried out in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
And so he's receiving as he's seated. And the king that was seated means his work is finished. So here is Jesus, seated for all that he's accomplished. Salvation belongs not to us, but to our God. In other words, this is a total work of God, a total work of grace. And for those who have received that grace, they're now responding in exuberant praise for all that God is and for what he's done.
The Palm Branches: Victory Over What?
Now, I want you to notice also what they are holding. And in both cases, it's palm branches. Palms in the Bible were a symbol of oasis, fertility. It was a symbol of strength and victory and triumph. And on Palm Sunday, they are waving those palms because here comes the king. And what they want Jesus to do is get rid of the Romans, set up their own government, send up their own kingdom, and just wipe away the enemies. But what they don't realize is that Jesus came to conquer much more than enemies—he ultimately came to conquer sin and death.
And notice also in Revelation 7 why they're holding palm branches. Here's what we read in verses 13 and 14, that his death made possible:
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where do they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are those who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Our Greatest Problem
Now notice—the people thought on that day that their greatest problem was their enemies, their political opponents. Not that some of us would think that some of that's our biggest worry. Some of us today, we think the biggest problem we have is the other person, the other group of people, the other people of political persuasion. Some of us think the biggest problem that we have is not only physical enemies, but we think maybe it's relational issues that we have, maybe it's financial.
But can I tell you that the biggest problem that you and I have is not just those things? The biggest problem that you and I have is a sin problem. That we are born into sin, that we are surrounded by sin and brokenness. And not only that, we contribute to that sin. And because of that sin—your sin and mine—we are now forever separated from God. Forever. We now die physically and we're spiritually separated from God. And apart from the intervening work of God and the grace of God, you and I are headed for destruction apart from God for all eternity.
That's why Jesus was riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday. That's why he was heading resolutely towards the cross, because he knew what he was about to do. He knew that the stakes couldn't be higher. And here comes King Jesus.
Coming Through the Great Tribulation
But what we read about the tribulation—they've washed their robes, made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and they have come out of the great tribulation. And the word for tribulation is the word thlipsis. It's a word that means trouble or difficulty. Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have tribulation, or trouble, or difficulty." But he said, "Take heart, for I've overcome the world."
And what I think he's saying in Revelation—I think he's alluding to two things. On the one hand, if you're a follower of Jesus, Jesus doesn't promise that he will keep you from difficulty. In fact, sometimes that's one of the reasons why we're disappointed in Jesus. We thought, "If I follow Jesus, life is going to go swimmingly." And Jesus doesn't promise that he will keep us from difficulty. But in the midst of difficulty, in the midst of persecution and trouble, he will keep us secure.
And here I think he's also alluding to a great tribulation, a period of even more intense tribulation before the return of Christ. I think this is alluded to in Daniel chapter 12, verse 1, Matthew 24, and elsewhere in the Gospels—that there seems to be a more intense period of persecution or tribulation that is coming. Some people have seen a partial fulfillment of this in AD 70 when the temple was overthrown.
But either way, what God wants to remind you and me today is that if you are in Christ, you will not be kept from tribulation, but safe in the midst of it, because Jesus is actually holding on to you and his finished work makes you washed in white and unstained by sin.
What God Provides: Shelter, Satisfaction, and Solace
I also want us to notice today what God provides. And what God provides is listed in verses 15 through 17. What he did on Palm Sunday was left unfulfilled—in other words, it was only partially why Jesus came. And here we see it fulfilled in verses 15 to 17. This is what we read:
Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. Never again will they hunger. Never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God himself will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Notice what God provides. We can remember it with three S's.
Shelter
Verse 15—he provides the shelter of his presence. The word that's used there is the word dwelling or tabernacle. It's the same word that John uses in John chapter 1 when it says that Jesus came, the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling—or his tabernacle—among us. And what the promise is, is that for those who keep faith and hold on and keep looking at Jesus, one day in this scene, you will finally see your Maker face to face. And what a day that'll be. Unencumbered by sin, unencumbered by brokenness. But finally and fully you will be with the Lord. He will be with you, and he will shelter you with his presence forever. And what a day that'll be.
Satisfaction
But also he promises that he will provide satisfaction. Verse 16—no scorching heat. Imagine it's 90-plus degrees. You're working outside in the concrete. And you are tired and you are thirsty and you are weak. The promise for those who trust in Jesus is that he will give complete satisfaction. All of our wants, all of our needs, in a resounding yes—that Jesus says, "I am everything you need and more."
And that doesn't just happen when you get to heaven. He promises that he will be your shepherd now. That you will not have everything that you want, but everything that you need. And everything that you need ultimately is Jesus and found in him.
Solace
And then finally, he provides solace. With the Lamb at the center of the throne, he promises he will wipe away every tear from your eye. What a promise that is. Do you notice how close you have to be to be able to wipe away someone's tears? That Jesus is close. And what he promises—that in this life, of all the hardships that you've been through, of all the brokenness that you've experienced, of all the loss—God promises he will one day wipe away every tear from your eye. All sad things will one day be untrue.
What a day that'll be. When you're standing before the throne with other people who have also professed faith in Jesus. No more tears. Reunited with loved ones who trusted in Jesus. But there, at the center of the throne, is the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world.
What Jesus Receives: Eternal Praise
And then finally, this is what Jesus receives. On Palm Sunday, he received what looked like praise, but it was partial praise. It was temporary praise. It was fleeting. But what Jesus is worthy of, and what he receives in this scene in Revelation 7, is eternal praise. Verses 10 through 12—listen to the multitude, followed by the elders and the angels. We read this:
And they cried out in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and they worshiped God, saying, "Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever."
Notice this is a sevenfold doxology, or an expression of praise. The number seven is a number of completeness in the Bible. And so, because Jesus is so worthy, he's receiving the praise that he's so worthy of—all the creatures and all the people praising God for who he is and for what he's done.
A couple of weeks ago, I got to go to a local symphony, and I'm no symphony expert. I can kind of hear what's off, but I probably don't appreciate a good symphony as much as some. But what I noticed—we had really good seats—and there was an older gentleman to my left. He was probably in his upper 80s. And I was just watching him the whole time that the symphony was going on, the whole service. He was grinning from ear to ear. He was leaning in. There was a glistening in his eyes.
And at the end of the symphony, when everybody started to rise to their feet to give a standing ovation, he rose to his feet so quickly. He was hooting and hollering. He was whistling. He was putting his hands up. He was so excited and responding to all that he just experienced. It was all that he could do, an overflow, to give thanks for what he just experienced.
And to me, that's a little bit of a taste of what it'll one day be in heaven for those who kept the faith, for Jesus who has been holding onto them. When you finally see your Maker face to face, you will not be able but to help, in all of your being, to worship and respond to God and praise him for all that he is, who he is, and what he's done in Christ. What a day that'll be.
An Invitation to Respond
And that's what Palm Sunday was previewing. Jesus coming lowly on a donkey to give his life sacrificially on the cross. What Jesus knew is that apart from his intervening saving grace, you and I were destined to hell without him. But what Jesus also knows—that for those who would put their faith in him, not in their own goodness, not their own ability to earn their way to this heavenly throne—because the only way to earn your way to this heavenly throne room scene is to do life perfectly and to never sin. Because God is sinless and perfect and pure. And when you get to the throne room, there will be nothing imperfect around the throne room.
And so that's a problem for you and for me. And so that's why Jesus went resolutely to the cross, thinking of you, of me, but ultimately thinking of his Father's glory. And he was nailed to the tree. Not just the physical pain, but the spiritual pain—the very brunt of the wrath of God that was poured out against sin. Jesus took it and he nailed it to the cross.
That if you would put your faith and your hope and your trust in the finished work of Jesus, that Jesus promises you today that you will be with him in paradise. And you can praise Jesus not just once when you get to heaven, but for all of eternity, starting today.
And so today I want to ask you: what is your response to who Jesus is and what he's done? There may be some of us here today that you recognize for the first time that you cannot earn your way into the throne room scene. And you recognize that because of your own sinfulness, you are stained. But today Jesus offers to you that you can have your robes washed by the blood of the Lamb, pure as snow. And what that means for you is that the worst sin you've ever done or the worst sin you'll ever commit, all of it will be separated as far as the east is from the west. That when God looks at you, he doesn't see your brokenness. He sees the perfection of Jesus. And he covers you in his righteous robes. That's available today to you.
But I also want to be aware that I don't want anyone here to be deceived. To those who thought, "I'm a good person. I'm a church person. I go to church on Palm Sunday. I'm with Jesus." Only to get to that day for Jesus to look at you and say, "I never really knew you." And so today I want you just to be concerned with the status of your own heart. Is it to say, "God, I have been changed by Jesus, and I cannot but help to worship and respond to God"? I want you to come to that place today, and I want you to know that you too can have your robes washed in white.
And if you're someone here today that you know Jesus, you've been praising him and following him all your life—one of the best ways that you can worship and respond to Jesus is to invite other people to that throne room scene as well. You know, the church is God's Plan A to save the world. You may be the only person in someone that you know's life who knows Jesus. And you can tell them just how good God is, and what he was doing on Palm Sunday, what he was doing on Good Friday hanging on the cross, and what he overcame on Easter Sunday when he rose from the dead.
I want to invite you—that kind of praise does not just start one day in heaven, but that can start now. Because, you see, worship is not just singing. Worship is a heart and a life response to who God is, to what he's done, and what he promises to do when he comes back—riding this time not on a donkey, but on a white horse—to bring all of history to conclusion. And so you can say with the angels and the elders: praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Let's pray. Father God, I can't wait for that day when we see you face to face. And God, I pray that today, if there's someone who is watching online, someone who's in person today, that maybe for the very first time they want to receive the white robes that you offer—by being washed by Jesus, by being made clean, by turning from their sin, repenting and trusting the finished work of Jesus. Father, I pray that you would save us today. We cry out, "Hosanna! Save us, Lord!" That's our cry today. And God, I pray that every one of us would respond to who you are with an overflow of our heart, with thankful joy and praise for who you are and what you've done. God, we look forward to that day, and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thanks, and have a great weekend. We'll see you this Easter Sunday.
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AI Use Disclaimer: This transcript was generated using automated speech-to-text technology and formatted with AI assistance. While care was taken to preserve accuracy, minor errors in wording, punctuation, or attribution may exist. Please refer to the original sermon recording for the authoritative version.
