The Humble King

Scripture:  Matthew 21:1-11  (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’ ” 6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!” 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1–11 NLT)

I read a blog post recently that asked the question, “Should a pastor ever own a private jet?” That started me thinking again about the inside out, upside down, servant-hearted values of Heaven’s Kingdom. Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of the Jews, the Savior of the World, the Son of God, the King of Kings, entered Jerusalem on the way to his coronation ceremony. He would soon be crowned “King of the Jews” by Roman soldiers, but his crown wouldn’t be a jewel-encrusted crown of gold, but a hideous crown of thorns. And he ascended a cross, not a throne!

Jesus fulfilled the centuries-old prophecy of Zechariah as he crossed the Kidron Valley and entered Jerusalem’s gate. Jesus didn’t enter his city in a shiny limousine escorted by guards in black SUV’s, he didn’t ride into town on a prancing horse with armed troops in shiny armor clearing the way before him. (And he didn’t fly in on a private jet!) Jesus rode into his city on a donkey’s colt with a couple of dusty, tattered robes thrown across its back in the clearest possible demonstration of the humility of a servant king and an example to everyone who will ever follow him as Master. Just sayin’!

Prayer:

Father, Please help us to get this right! May we learn to love the inside-out, upside-down, servant-hearted humility of the Kingdom of Heaven and Jesus our King! Amen!