YOUR KING IS COME
Opening Prayer
Lord, I believe You are the Messiah.
Read Mark 11:1–11
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Footnotes:
a Mark 11:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 10
b Mark 11:9 Psalm 118:25,26
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (Ps 24:7).
Think Further
Picture the scene: crowds are flocking to Jerusalem, the festival season is upon them, and word spreads that Jesus is on His way (John 12:1,12,17,18). Jesus, the one who restores sight to the blind, even raises the dead, is coming. The excitement is palpable. Electricity is in the air. Here he is! Jesus, atop a donkey, rides into Jerusalem. Their spirits running high, the crowd greets Him like a king: they make a carpet for Him from cloaks and branches and shout their praises to Him.
Indeed, He is a king. He is the king long ago prophesied of: the one who would come to Jerusalem “righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey” (Zech 9:9; Matt 21:4–8). He is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, who is of the line of David, to whom the crowd could rightly shout “Hosanna”, or, “Lord, save us!”(Ps 118:25). And yet, it’s doubtful that the crowd truly recognizes who Jesus really is. It’s doubtful, despite their words and acts of deference, that they understand in all fullness that Jesus is the Messiah – the one who would indeed save them from their sins.
Getting caught up in the moment, joining the crowd, and shouting praises to the man on the donkey is easy. Today, it’s easy to get caught up in church or religion. But do we really know Jesus as king? Is he really on the throne in our lives? Are our praises meaningful, personal? Let us not be among those who honor Jesus with their lips, but whose hearts are far from Him (Matt 15:8). And, mindful of Jesus’ journeying towards Calvary, let us be filled with praise for the amazing victory that He won for us on the cross –salvation from our sins (Hendriksen, 1975, p439).
Apply
“Jesus is King and I will extol Him; give Him the glory, and honor His name. He reigns on high, enthroned in the heavens; Word of the Father, exalted for us” (Wendy Churchill, 1982).
Closing prayer
Lord, You were born a king, and You died a king. I willingly bow my knee to my King.
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