From Hosanna to Crucify Him | Charles Blake II | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

From Hosanna to Crucify Him

Charles Blake II

West Angeles Church of God in Christ • Mar 29, 2026 • 157 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Charles Blake II explores the dramatic shift in Jerusalem from shouting 'Hosanna' on Sunday to crying 'Crucify Him' on Good Friday. The crowd welcomed Jesus expecting a political warrior to liberate them from Roman tyranny, but Jesus came to offer eternal salvation rather than temporary political triumph. Believers are challenged to examine their own hearts, surrendering personal expectations to pray 'Not my will, but Thy will be done.'

Themes

Palm Sunday & Holy WeekGod's Will vs. Human ExpectationsRadical DiscipleshipMercy and RedemptionThe Love of Christ

Key Points

1.
When Jesus entered the temple, He directly challenged the corrupt financial system that extorted worshippers under the guise of religious duty, cleansing the temple to declare that God's house must remain a place of pure worship and prayer.
2.
Regardless of hardship, persecution, or fear, nothing in creation can sever a believer from the love of Christ, providing absolute security and hope through every trial.
3.
The crowds on Palm Sunday welcomed Jesus as a political liberator from Roman oppression, expecting a military deliverer like Moses, Joshua, or David.
4.
The tragedy of Holy Week is that the same crowd shouting "Hosanna" on Sunday cried "Crucify Him" on Friday when Jesus did not fulfill their earthly expectations.
5.
Worshiping God merely for personal benefit rather than who He is leads to spiritual frustration when life does not align with our desires.
6.
Jesus called His followers to a radical shift in perspective—commanding them to love their enemies, pray for persecutors, and render unto Caesar what is Caesar's.
7.
Believers figuratively re-crucify Christ whenever they step outside of His revealed will to follow self-centered desires.
8.
True alignment with God requires adopting Christ's prayer in Gethsemane: "Not my will, but Thy will be done."
9.
Jesus took what humanity deserved—judgment and justice—and freely granted us mercy and eternal life instead.

Sermon Moments

“On Sunday they love you, singing your praises, and just five days later they hated you so much that they wanted you to be crucified.”

“Throughout the history of Israel, whenever the people were oppressed, God would inevitably raise up a deliverer.”

“They were so caught up in their own desires, pain, and expectations that when they found out Jesus was not who they thought He was, they screamed for His crucifixion.”

“We cry hosanna every time we worship Him on a Sunday, and then we scream 'Crucify Him!' every time we step outside of His will for our lives.”

“Jesus took what we deserve and He gave us what He deserved—we deserved justice, but He gave us mercy.”

“There is a difference between what you want and what God wants; we must pray, 'Not what I want Lord, but what You want.'”

“I promise you, beloved, that that which is crucified with Christ will rise with Him.”

This Week

Evaluate your motives in worship to ensure you seek Jesus for who He is rather than solely for what He can give you.

Surrender your personal plans and timeline by daily praying, "Not my will, but Thy will be done."

Practise radical love toward those who oppose or frustrate you by praying for them and serving them generously.

Examine your heart for self-centeredness and repent of the ways you step outside of God's revealed will during the week.

Guard your heart and local church against spiritual pretense, ensuring your worship remains sincere and focused on prayer.

Rest securely in the truth of Romans 8, remembering that no trial, hardship, or persecution can separate you from God's love in Christ.

Yield your dreams and desires back to God, trusting that what you yield to Him will rise in ways beyond your imagination.

Remember This

Jesus came not to fulfill our temporary earthly expectations, but to save us from sin, transform our hearts, and secure our eternal union with God.

A Challenge for You

Yield your life, dreams, desires, and expectations to Christ, praying "Not my will, but Thy will be done," and trust that what is crucified with Him will rise in ways beyond your imagination.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.