Jesus Enters Jerusalem: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Luke 19:28-40
Children hear how Jesus sent for a colt and rode toward Jerusalem while the crowd praised Him as King. They lay down a road of cloaks, make a praise flag and learn Luke 19:38.
Memory verse
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. (Luke 19:38, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell how Jesus sent two disciples for a colt and rode toward Jerusalem while the crowd praised Him.
- Explain that the people praised Jesus as the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
- Choose one way to praise Jesus this week and say Luke 19:38 from memory.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Who Is Coming? (5 min)
Greet each child by name. Ask: "When someone very important visits, what do people do?" (Clap, cheer, make a path.)
Play "Cheer Time": the children sit. When you say "A special guest is coming!", they clap, cheer and wave for 10 seconds. Then they freeze and sit quietly. Do this three times. Each time, name a different guest: a firefighter, a champion athlete, a king.
Say: "Today we will hear about the most special guest ever."
Say: "A crowd cheered for Him on a road outside Jerusalem. Let's find out who He is."
Say: "Now let's listen to the story from God's Word."
Hear the Story (7 min)
Read or retell Luke 19:28-40 from your KJV in order. Pause at each action. The children do the motion, sitting in place.
1. Jesus goes ahead toward Jerusalem. (Walk fingers on knees.)
2. Near Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sends two disciples to the village. (Hold up two fingers.)
3. He says they will find a colt tied, one that no man has sat on. They are to loose it and bring it. If anyone asks why, they say: "The Lord hath need of him." (Untie a pretend rope.)
4. They find it just as Jesus said. They bring the colt, throw their garments on it and set Jesus on it. (Lay out your hands, then lift them.)
5. People spread their clothes in the road. (Sweep arms across the floor.)
6. The whole multitude of disciples rejoices and praises God with a loud voice for the mighty works they had seen. (Cheer quietly!)
7. Some Pharisees say, "Master, rebuke thy disciples." Jesus answers that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Cup hands at your mouth.)
Say: "Everything happened just as Jesus said it would."
Say: "Now let's think about what this tells us about Jesus."
Why a King on a Colt? (7 min)
Ask: "What do you picture a king riding?" (A big horse, a golden carriage.) Jesus chose a colt that was borrowed.
Say: "Jesus knew about the colt before His disciples found it. He knows everything."
Say: "The owners let the colt go when they heard, 'The Lord hath need of him.' Jesus is Lord, and we can give Him what we have."
Say: "The crowd called Jesus 'the King that cometh in the name of the Lord.' They praised Him for the mighty works they had seen."
Say: "Some people wanted the crowd to be quiet. Jesus said even the stones would cry out. Praising Him is the right thing to do."
Background: The prophet Zechariah wrote long before that Zion's King would come humble, riding on a colt (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus is a humble King who came to save us.
Say: "Now let's practice making way for our King."
Game: The Road of Cloaks (7 min)
Setup before class: Make a "road" on the floor with a long line of masking tape. Place the cloth pieces in a pile at the start. Use a carpeted or non-slip area.
Steps:
1. Divide the children into two teams of equal size. Each child takes one cloth.
2. One at a time, each child walks (no running) along the road and lays a cloth flat. They call out a praise word: "Glory!", "Blessed!", "Peace!" or "King!"
3. When the road is full, the whole group walks slowly beside it. They say the memory verse together, one phrase at a time after you.
4. Pick up the cloths. Play again, and this time the teams swap roles.
5. End by freezing silently for 5 seconds. Say: "Even in quiet, we can honor Jesus."
Time: 7 minutes. Anyone who prefers not to walk can lay cloths by hand from a seat or lead the chant.
Craft: Praise Flag (9 min)
Setup before class: Cut paper into flag shapes. Set out crayons, glue sticks and craft sticks at each table.
Safety: Scissors are for older children or teacher use. Supervise with glue and sticks. Do not put craft items in mouths.
Steps:
1. Write "Blessed be the King!" at the top of the flag. Help younger writers.
2. Draw a crown or a road with cloaks on it.
3. Add one word or picture of a way to praise Jesus, such as singing, thanking, or telling a friend.
4. Glue the flag to a craft stick. Let it set for a minute.
5. Wave your flag and say Luke 19:38 with a partner.
Time: 9 minutes. Flags go home with the children.
Talk It Over (5 min)
Gather in a circle. Ask:
1. What did Jesus tell the two disciples to do? (Find a colt, loose it and bring it. If asked, say, "The Lord hath need of him.")
2. What did the crowd do as Jesus rode along? (They spread clothes on the road and praised God with a loud voice.)
3. Why did they call Him King? (He comes in the name of the Lord, and they had seen His mighty works.)
4. What did Jesus say about the stones? (If the people were silent, the stones would cry out.)
5. How can you praise Jesus this week? (Sing, thank Him, share a Bible verse, be kind.)
Accept short answers and thank every child who shares.
Closing: Praise and Prayer (5 min)
Say: "We cannot lay cloaks on a road today, but we can lift our hearts to Jesus."
Have the children hold up their flags. Pray one line at a time, and the children repeat after you:
- "Jesus, You are our King." (Thank Him for who He is.)
- "Thank You for the mighty things You do." (Name one thing each.)
- "Help us to use what we have for You." (Pray for willing hearts.)
- "Help us to praise You every day. Amen."
Say the memory verse together once more. Send the children home with their flags and the family page.
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- 6-8 scarves, towels or large cloth pieces
- Masking tape
- Paper (pre-cut into flag shapes)
- Crayons or markers
- Child-safe scissors
- Glue sticks
- Craft sticks
Teacher notes
- Luke does not mention palm branches or the word "donkey." Stick to "colt" and "garments" as the passage says.
- Safety: Check scissors and glue use. Supervise craft sticks and keep small pieces out of mouths. Keep the road game to walking only, on a non-slip floor.
- Adaptation: Use picture cards of the story steps for visual learners. Pair buddies for the craft. Give quiet options, such as laying cloths from a seat, for children who prefer less movement.
- Background and tradition sections are short. If time is tight, shorten the cheering game and keep the story, game and craft.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Luke 19:28-40. Jesus sent two disciples to bring a colt. As He rode toward Jerusalem, the crowd spread their clothes on the road and praised God. They called Him the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Jesus said that if they were silent, the stones would cry out.
- What did the crowd say about Jesus as He rode along?
- What is one mighty thing God has done that you can thank Him for?
- What do you have that you could give to Jesus?
Make a "praise road" at home by laying towels along a hallway. As each family member walks along it, they say one thing they thank Jesus for. Finish by saying Luke 19:38 together.
Each day this week, praise Jesus out loud. You can sing a song, say a prayer of thanks, or tell someone one thing He has done.
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