A New Kind of Royalty
Opening Prayer
Father, help me to cling to You, to walk in truth and to turn from all that creates distance from You.
Read Matthew 21:1-11
[1] As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, [2] saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. [3] If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” [4] This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: [5] “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'” [6] The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. [7] They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. [8] A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. [9] The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” [10] When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” [11] The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How would you answer: Who is this?The introduction of royalty typically involves a lot of pomp and ceremony. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was also full of pomp and ceremony, but can you spot the elements of spontaneity (8)?Matthew’s story answers the question (10), “Who is this?” Jesus’ choice of a young donkey to ride fulfilled a prophecy about God’s coming king (Zech. 9:9). The song the people sing (9) derives from Psalm 118. It was a traditional psalm for singing on the uphill route from Jericho to Jerusalem. Both the donkey and the song provide answers to the question of verse 10. This man riding into Jerusalem is the longed-for Son of David, the Messiah the people were hoping would come and save them. They were looking for a Messiah who would enter Jerusalem on a war horse, at the head of an army. Jesus, instead, rides a humble and lowly colt, showing that he comes as a king of peace, a humble and lowly servant for the ordinary pilgrims on the street. Many people today are also unsure of who Jesus is to them. How can you, in daily life, reveal Jesus as the King of kings?
Apply
Do you know Jesus as the gentle and humble King, ready to lay down his life to save us?
Closing prayer
Lord, You are the mighty Lion of the Tribe of Judah. I bow before You, the humble Lamb that was slain.
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