Your king is coming to you
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you.” (Zechariah 9:9a)
What does the mention of a king bring to mind? Do you think of a castle, a crown, all sorts of pomp and circumstance, a horse-drawn carriage?
If you had seen the parade on that first Palm Sunday, you would have been surprised with the appearance of the one being hailed as a king. There were none of the earthly trappings I mentioned above. This man who was being called a king was dressed in the same clothes as everyone else. He was not in a carriage or on a horse, but on a lowly donkey.
The only circumstance that might have signaled a king was the crowds that greeted him and the welcome mat of palm branches and people’s garments.
But this king, Jesus, was different than most kings. His goal was not to control an area of land or a group of people. His goal was to subdue our three greatest enemies – sin, death and Satan. He would not accomplish his goal by war or show of power. Jesus showed what true humility looks like as he entered Jerusalem and walked the road to the cross. Jesus went humbly as he bowed to his Father’s will. Jesus went humbly to win forgiveness and heaven for you and me. Jesus could not accomplish his mission by power or might. He could only complete his mission by humbly suffering ridicule and mockery, which were unjust, and dying a horrible criminal’s death for charges of which he was innocent.
As we begin a week many of us are very familiar with, and as we walk a path we have walked many times before, please don’t mindlessly observe events that are all too familiar. Keep your eyes focused on your king. Watch him, and as we have said all the way through this Lenten season, remember what he did for you!
Looking for additional resources? Martin Luther College has daily Lenten devotional that can help guide you through Holy Week.