John 12:12-15
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
Passover was the greatest holiday of Judaism and always drew massive crowds to Jerusalem…along with massive numbers of sacrificial lambs. How ironic. “Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us that one year a census was taken of the number of lambs slain for Passover and that figure was 256,500. In other words, with numbers this large, lambs must literally be driven up to Jerusalem throughout the entire day. Consequently, whenever Jesus entered the city He must have done so surrounded by lambs, Himself being the greatest of lambs.” (Boice)
Into this great throng of man and beast rode a King…but which kind?
The word of Lazarus’ resurrection had spread far and wide and had reached the holy city ahead of Jesus’ arrival. Would this prophet from Nazareth raise someone else from the dead in honor of the Passover Feast? What other signs and wonders might he perform? The air must have been pregnant with expectation as the people prepared the way for this amazing man of God. Perhaps he would lead the people out from under Roman rule and re-establish their independence as the great Jewish state. Palm branches had been a symbol of national pride since the time of the Maccabees and by conflating that symbolism with the arrival of Jesus, the people proved they did not understand what kind of king was in their midst. They certainly were not hungering for a suffering servant.
What kind of King are you looking for?
I wrote this devotional on the heels of the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The results had not been finalized and formalized. America was deeply divided—right down the middle—and people were clamoring for a national savior of sorts. Who can best lead us out of the COVID-19 pandemic? Who can best lead us back to economic prosperity? Who can lead America into the future as a beacon of hope for the world? Jesus came riding into the Jewish capitol on a donkey, rather than a majestic steed. “He did not come as a conqueror but as a messenger of peace. He rode on a donkey, not the steed of royalty, but that of a commoner on a business trip.” (Tenney) The “business” Jesus was tending to had eternal weight for each and every member in that cheering crowd, yet most of them would cry “Crucify him!” a short time later. The crowds today aren’t much different.
The election results matter. Who the president of the United States is matters. Policy matters. Government matters. Lawmaking matters. Who represents the people at all levels of government matters. BUT…none of it matters as much as the Reign of King Jesus. Which kingship brings you more comfort? If you are a child of God through faith in His Son then you are a part of an eternal Royal Priesthood, and no politician or nation can hold a candle to that distinction. Yes, it matters who the “king” is in our nation, as their “reign” creates consequences for millions of people—both born and unborn—who are made in the image of God. However, no earthly king holds the keys to death and Hades. No earthly king has the right to judge the living and the dead. And no earthly king could pay the price to redeem your soul. Make sure your ultimate allegiance is to the one and only Ultimate King.
