The Arrival of the King
Opening Prayer
Humble King, thank You that You came into my broken world, took on my shame and opened the way to life.
Read LUKE 19:28-40
[28] After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. [29] As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, [30] “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. [31] If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.'” [32] Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. [33] As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” [34] They replied, “The Lord needs it.” [35] They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. [36] As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. [37] When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: [38] “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” [39] Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” [40] “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 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
Why does Jesus enter the city on a colt?Jesus normally travels on foot, so why does he now choose a different form of transport? Jesus rides into the city of the kings, Jerusalem, on the back of a young colt. This is a symbolic act, a declaration of his identity and destiny. Zechariah 9:9 promises that Jerusalem’s king will arrive on the back of a foal. Quite a few verses in this passage (29-35) are devoted to explaining how this foal is obtained, showing the importance of the animal to the story. The ancient kings of Israel rode into Jerusalem as part of their coronation ceremony, not to conquer the city, but in order to be crowned. Jesus does not enter Jerusalem on the back of a trained military horse; instead, he journeys to his enthronement on an untried animal. He takes the path of peace.Jesus is followed by a multitude of disciples, who cry out: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord,” applying to Jesus the adulation found in Psalm 118:26. Their proclamation, “peace in heaven and glory in the highest,” echoes that of the angels in Luke 2:14. Both the angels and the disciples were overjoyed at the prospect of Jesus’ coming reign.
Apply
Today, on Palm Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the King of Peace. Make a list of some of the attributes of a good king.
Closing prayer
Lord, in a world overrun with power hunger and oppression, You came to turn it all around while taking the lowest place.
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