Behold Your King!

Imagine the scene. . . Jews from around the world have gathered to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. It is the greatest of their feasts, celebrating their deliverance from an oppressive empire, Egypt.

They are now experiencing oppression by yet another foreign empire, Rome. But a strange new hope is rising in their hearts as they hear that Jesus has just raised Lazarus to life. Nothing is impossible if your leader can bring you back from the dead after three days of corruption! Victory is assured if your army is invincible!

And so, as news of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey spreads, the people get excited, probably quoting Zachariah 9:9 to one another.

“Rejoice greatly!” And so they rejoice, waving palm branches in the air and setting their cloaks down in front of him, joyously shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David (Mark 11:9-10)!”

“See!” They are seeing him with their own eyes . . . the promised Messiah, the Davidic King who will reign forever. Yet, this king is entering his city so humbly . . . on a donkey . . . rather than seated on a horse or riding in a chariot accompanied by a large escort.

“Your King comes to you!” In that moment, they believe that Jesus is the promised Messianic King. How they yearn to see their oppression end and Israel’s promised reign begin!

And yet, in a few short days, another cry will ring out hard and loud from within this city. Not a cry of welcoming joy, but a cry of angry rejection. . .

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered (John 19:14-16).

Palm Sunday reminds us that our rejoicing in God so often depends on fleeting circumstances rather than a solid faith in our unchanging Lord.

When Jesus does not act as we expect him to, when suffering rather than victory is our lot, will we still rejoice greatly in our humble King?

Lord Jesus, You are the King of Israel, the promised Messiah. You are the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. Yet, you have chosen to build your Kingdom not by worldly means, but through spiritual ones. Help us rejoice in you and fix our eyes on you throughout this day. We rejoice as we contemplate you, our gracious, humble, yet glorious King!

Throughout This Day: Rejoice in the eternal, perfect salvation that is ours because of our glorious King’s humble obedience to his Father.