Strange looking King

30 Days with Jesus

Day 23 - Matthew 21 v 1 - 27

Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, HUMBLE, and mounted on a donkey v 5


Hosanna! was the cry that greeted Jesus. a Hebrew word (hoshi`ah-na) that had become a greeting or shout of praise but that actually meant "Save!" or "Help!" 

Not only crys of Hosanna but the people brought palm branches. These in Jewish tradition were symbolic of a victorious ruler. The cry of Hosanna! and the palm branches point us towards a conclusion, but this conclusion is made clear as the crowd adds a further line, Blessed is the King of Israel! (v. 13). 

Clearly they see in Jesus the answer to their nationalistic, messianic hopes. Earlier a crowd had wanted to make Jesus king (John 6:15), and now this crowd is recognising him as king in the city of the great King. Here is the great dream of a Davidic ruler who would come and liberate Israel, establishing peace and subduing the Gentile.

But Jesus messes with this perfect scene of triumph and victory. There King is not in some splendid gold encrusted chariot. He is on a donkey!

He is a King but not the sort of King they were expecting. A HUMBLE King. Who was intent on making a statement. Unlike us so many times when we want our statement our picture to show greatness, at least on the outside.

Jesus had no need for outward statements of greatness. He simply was great. But continually he chose a position of humility.

He HUMBLED himself to become a man.
He HUMBLED himself to the Fathers will.
He HUMBLED himself to serve his followers.
He HUMBLED himself to death on the Cross.

And when the time was right he was GLORIFIED above everything!