I remember as a child learning a song titled “The King Is Coming.” I knew it was about the second coming of Jesus, but as I reflect on it today, it is so much more than a song. Today is what Christians call Palm Sunday. It was the one and only time we saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem. The crowds laid down palm branches and their garments on the path where Jesus was riding and praised Him with the words Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna meant save us. The Son of David meant the Messiah. This event was fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-11, but was first foretold in Zechariah 9:9.
Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Matthew 21:5 “Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon a donkey, and a colt the foal of a donkey.”
Those who were putting down their garments and shouting out Hosanna and Son of David knew exactly what they were proclaiming. They were acknowledging that Jesus was the Messiah, the King they had longed for and waited to see. In verse 5, note that they did not say a King but “thy King.” This is the one they had long-expected one, the righteous Ruler among men. Their King had come, but their acceptance was short-lived. It would only be days before they would yell, “Crucify Him.”
Matthew 21:9 “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”
One day, the King of everything will appear at the sound of the trumpet. He will be coming for those who are His, those who have accepted Him as their King and lived in obedience to Him. He will reign forever, and all will know He is the King. Millions upon millions will bow to Him that have never bowed before. Those who have served Him will be blessed with eternal life with Him and will be in awe forever at what a great, glorious, beautiful, loving King He is. Yet, on this day, instead of riding on a warhorse, Jesus was riding on a donkey. Though they worshiped Him for a short while, it did not last long because they were expecting a political liberator. Their desires were selfish and worldly, but Jesus was a humble, sacrificial King.
I Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
Who is your king? You will know by what consumes your mind and your actions. Is it your job, your family, the pleasures of this world? I understand all of these things are part of our lives. But Jesus and how we can glorify and serve Him should be in our hearts and minds at all times. When you see those who are not saved, does this thought prompt you to introduce them to your Savior? When your paycheck arrives, do you automatically think about writing your check to the church where you are fed the word of God? Do you understand that all the good things in your life are a gift from the King of Kings? One day, this King will not ride on a donkey, a symbol of humility, but will ride on a white majestic horse!
Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
