April 7, We have a King
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
Matthew 21:9
Hosanna in the highest!
Mark 11:10
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Luke 19:38
Thinking back to the context of “Palm Sunday,” Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for His final visit. He paused on the eastern slope of the city, just two miles beyond its walls where two small hamlets were positioned: Bethany and Bethpage.
Within the tiny village of Bethany (the southeastern foot of the Mount of Olives), our Savior waited as He sent two of His disciples to go and retrieve a young colt. The Prophet Zechariah spoke of this many years earlier (Zechariah 9:9), and this prophecy was fulfilled in every particular detail. Matthew’s Gospel actually includes the quote itself: “say to the daughter of Zion, ‘behold your King is coming to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden’.” (Matthew 21:5)
As Jesus rode on the colt down the slope of the Mount of Olives, the crowd (primarily composed of the larger circle of His following) gathered and began singing and celebrating Him because of all He had done (referring to the miracles they had seen). Matthew’s Gospel simply tells us that the crowd gathered. Luke’s Gospel adds that the crowd was identified as disciples. Nonetheless, the individuals that gathered comprised the entourage of people following Christ from town to town who had witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd began to shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” What a song! The gospels of Matthew and Mark included the actual word sung from the Hebrew language: “Hosanna.” This term translates, “to save.” (The actually rendering is, “save now.”) The term, “blessed,” indicates that the perspective of Jesus as king invoked a response of worship among the crowd. Within this response, consider the expression of the palm branches and the cloaks. (Matthew’s Gospel identifies the branches being cut and strewn as palm branches; Luke only references the cloaks). What is the common message of both of these acts?
The cloaks strewn signified and honored the dignity of the King. (From Israel’s history, this act was demonstrated to King Jehu, 2 Kings 9). As the King rode upon the cloaks, he was recognized as elevated above all others. In the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, this expression of kingly dignity actually demonstrated the supremacy of Christ. Along with the cloaks, the palm branches also expressed kingly honor, as in ancient times the branches symbolized peace and emphasized that the king had returned from battle victoriously securing peace for his people.
The crowds waved their palm branches and threw down their cloaks. The king had arrived! But did they truly know that His entrance was not one of political gain, nor of military overthrow? NO! His entrance into Jerusalem blazed a path to much more than many could understand at the moment. This is why Jesus wept when he approached the city (Luke 19:41). He then spoke these words: “if you could know this day the things that make peace for you, but they have been hidden from your eyes” Luke 19:42).
Wow! The excitement of Jesus’ entry into the city was deserving: He is King, and He has conquered all things to bring peace. But like many who lined the road that day, there are many today who seek peace only for the moment. Just as those who desired in that moment that Jesus would take over the Roman stronghold, many today are looking for a momentary fix. But Jesus did not come only to transform your moment and save you from a temporary crisis; His purpose was much greater. He came to give you live eternal. He came to overthrow sin, death, the grave, and Hell.
So today, may we surrender our impulse to have a quick fix in the moment, and may we trust the Prince of Peace for all things and for all times. May we honor Him not because of what we hope He will do “right now.” Let’s honor Him because of WHO HE IS!
May we offer Jesus our highest praise, for He is our conquering King. We should not live as if we are losing a battle. We should live victorious. This is our response to His reign. Our worshipful proclamation is, “We have a King, He is here, we celebrate, for He reigns.”
Raise your Palm branches to the King of Kings.
Blessings.
READ
Read Matthew 21:1-10, Mark 11:1-10, and Luke 19:28-40.