Reading: Matthew 21-22
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto Me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass (Matt. 21:1-5).
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:16). It is an indisputable fact that Jesus is King over all of creation. Still, Scripture makes it clear that His Kingship is unlike anything the world has conditioned us to recognize. On the night of His birth, the shepherds did not find the newborn babe in a palace or royal attire but rather wrapped in rough cloth and lying in a humble stable manger. Similarly, His triumphant entry into Jerusalem did not occur with the flourish of a stately display of horse-drawn chariots and flowing royal robes. Nothing could be plainer or less pretentious than this memorable event that Zechariah foretold. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass (Zech. 9:9).
The lowly animal chosen for His entry was as unassuming as the garments the disciples draped upon it. Nothing about the physical appearance of his procession gave any indication of royalty. How could the garments of the disciples and the branches of the multitude be compared to the purple hangings and gorgeous array with which other sovereigns paraded their power and displayed their pride? Yet for all that, something about the man Himself made everyone stop and take notice. It was not for a royal procession, but solely for the man sitting on the donkey that the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest (Matt. 21:9).
Christ the King has come to rule our hearts and to shepherd us back into the presence of God. God has given Him dominion over all that is in this world And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church (Eph. 1:22), but worldly boundaries and standards do not define His kingdom. God has displayed His glory from within in a way wholly unrelated to fanfare and showmanship, and only those who are willing to avail themselves of the tools God has provided us that allow us to view Him with clear eyes and open hearts will be able to perceive Him as He truly is.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power(Eph. 1:17-19).
Thought For TodayGod’s authority is absolute, but if we wish for it to shape our lives, we must first accept it without reservation.
Cross Reference: For Matt. 21:5: See Is. 62:11; Zech. 9:9. Matt. 21:9: See Ps. 118:26. Matt. 21:13: See Is. 56:7; Jer. 7:11. Matt. 21:16: See Ps. 8:2. Matt. 21:33: See Ps. 80:8-9; Is. 5:1-2. Matt. 21:42: See Ps. 118:22- 23. Matt. 22:24: See Deut. 25:5. Matt. 22:32: See Ex. 3:6. Matt. 22:37: See Deut. 6:5. Matt. 22:39: See Lev. 19:18. Matt. 22:44: See Ps. 110:1.
Word Studies: 121:2 over against you = ahead of you; facing you; 21:8 strawed . . . in the way = spread in His path; 21:33 husbandmen = tenant farmers; 21:42 The Stone . . . is become the Head of the corner = Christ (Ps.118:22-23) who is the Chief Corner Stone (Eph. 2:20; I Pet. 2:6).
Pray For Staff: Gilbert Palafox • Country: Curacao (146,836) Caribbean • Major Language: Papiamentu • Religious Freedom • 72.8% Roman Catholic; 6.6% Pentecostal; 3.2% Protestant; 3% Adventist; 2% Jehovah Witness; 1.9% Evangelical 3.8% Other 6% None; 0.6% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Do not be fearful or live in dread of what might happen; trust the Lord to take care of you (Ps. 112:7).