CELEBRATE OUR KING

“Matthew 21 (NKJV) 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

Israel was looking for a militant Messiah to lead a rebellion against the oppressive Roman government. They cried out with patriotic songs and symbols as Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

But Jesus had a different agenda, His death. They looked for a temporal solution to their grievance, while Jesus came with a permanent solution to their greatest need, salvation.

Think of the significance of Jesus choosing to ride into Jerusalem riding a young donkey, rather than a conqueror’s white horse, which would have implied to those wanting a military king that one had arrived.

How often do we look for our Lord to respond to our temporal needs rather than praising Him for the reason He died on the cross, making a way for us to spend eternity with Him and to enjoy His presence in our lives every day?