Palm Sunday is one of the most significant events leading into Holy Week. This popular Bible story is a beautiful depiction of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey while the people laid down palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9b NIV)

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While this story is taught in Sunday school around the world, many children miss the deeper truth behind the story. Today we are going to look at some ways to help our children understand what really happened on Palm Sunday.

By engaging children through different forms of learning, we are able to give them a better chance to grasp deeper biblical truth.

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5 Ways to Help Kids Understand Palm Sunday

1. Read the Story of Palm Sunday.

Read the story in Matthew 21:1-17 together. If your children are able to read, you can take turns reading the story aloud. Not only is reading aloud a wonderful way to cement what you are learning, it’s a great way to bond as a family.

2. Ask Questions.

Questions are a wonderful way to open up a child’s heart to hear the truth of God’s Word. Giving your child the chance to articulate their understanding is a powerful discipleship tool. It gives them the ability to meditate on the Word as well as develop a habit of deeper thinking.

Here are a couple of questions you can ask your children after reading the story of Palm Sunday:

• What would you do if a King visited you?
• Why did the people lay palm branches and cloaks before Jesus?
• What do you think it would have been like to see Jesus riding into the city on Palm Sunday?

3. Teach them what Hosanna means.

“Hosanna!” is an expression of joy, adoration, and praise to God. The people in Jerusalem were treating Jesus like a King, and they believed that He was God. They were excited that the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) was coming to pass:

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.

4. Discuss some ways we can treat Jesus like a King.

It is important that we teach our children ways they can treat Jesus like a King (like God). Some ideas may include:

• Reading and obeying His Word.
• Telling others about his goodness.
• Praising and worshiping His holy name.

5. Pray together.

One great way to solidify your children’s understanding of Palm Sunday is to pray together. Here is a simple prayer to get you started:

Dear God,

We ask you to give us a deep understanding of who you are. Please help us to see your truth and love in everyday life. Give us the tools to honor you through all we do. Help us to be more like you. Thank you for blessing us with the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Teaching our children about the Bible is an honor. By being consistent and intentional we can teach and model deep truths of Scripture for them. Make it a point this Easter to enjoy the story of Palm Sunday together as you discover more of Jesus as a family. You can never go wrong with Jesus!