“People shouted, ‘Hosanna!’ to Jesus the King. Jesus is our King too.”

“People shouted, ‘Hosanna!’ to Jesus the King. Jesus is our King too.”

Matthew 21

Children repeat after you:

“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Song 1 – B-I-B-L-E

• Bible hands, hug the “book,” step on “I stand alone.”

Song 2 – Looking At My Heart

Song 3 – “Hosanna, Hosanna”
(Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
“If you’re happy Jesus came, shout ‘Hosanna!’ (Hosanna!)
If you’re happy Jesus came, shout ‘Hosanna!’ (Hosanna!)
If you’re happy Jesus came,
Praise His holy, loving name,
If you’re happy Jesus came, shout ‘Hosanna!’ (Hosanna!)”

Motions: wave hands like branches when shouting “Hosanna!”

Sit kids in a circle. Use: Jesus figure, donkey, people figures, green paper “branches.”

a) Jesus rides into Jerusalem
Place the donkey at one side, Jesus next to it.

• “The Bible tells us that Jesus was going to the city of Jerusalem. He told His friends to bring Him a young donkey. Jesus sat on the donkey, and they started down the road into the city.”

Put Jesus on the donkey and begin moving them forward.

b) People welcome Jesus as King
Place people figures along the “road.” Give them branches and “cloaks” (paper strips

• “Many people had heard about Jesus—they had seen Him help people and heard Him teach. When they saw Jesus coming, they were very happy. They spread their cloaks on the road like a soft path for Jesus. They cut branches from trees and waved them
• “The people shouted, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ They were praising Jesus as their King and welcoming Him.”

Wave paper “branches” with the children and repeat “Hosanna!”

d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “People praised Jesus as King. I can praise Jesus too.”

Motions:
Wave hands up high on “praised Jesus.”
Put pretend crown on head for “King.”
Point to self on “I can,” then wave hands again on “praise Jesus too.”

Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing and sitting.

c) Jesus connection (our King today)
Hold Jesus on the donkey in the middle.

“That day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem like a gentle King, not on a big horse, but on a small donkey. Jesus is a different kind of King. He came to love, to serve, and to save us.”
“Jesus is still our King today. We can praise Him with our voices, our songs, and our lives. We don’t see Him riding a donkey now, but we know He is King in heaven and with us by His Spirit.”

Goal: 
Palm-branch style craft with a simple praise line.

Steps

• Give each child a green paper with a palm leaf shape (or help them draw and cut one out if able).
• Let them draw veins/lines on the leaf and decorate with the word “Hosanna.”
• Tape or glue a craft stick or rolled strip of paper as a handle.
• Add the phrase somewhere on the leaf or handle:
  • “Hosanna! Jesus is my King.”
• Practice waving the branches gently.

Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)

• “You are making a branch like the people waved for Jesus. They shouted ‘Hosanna!’ and praised Him as King. We can praise Jesus too today. When you wave this branch, remember: ‘Hosanna! Jesus is my King.’”

When finished, have them stand and wave their branches while saying:

• “Hosanna! Jesus is my King.”