We have started our journey to the cross of Jesus Christ. As we make this journey we begin with the triumphal entry of Jesus coming into Jerusalem. This is an event that is recorded by all four gospel writers. As we witness Jesus coming to Jerusalem, with His eyes set on the cross, we are confronted with a simple reality: Jesus is King.
We encounter Jesus as King in four ways:
1. Jesus rides a donkey.
Needless to say, this was an unusual mode of transportation for one who is King. But Jesus rides a donkey in fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, “that your King is coming to you, lowly, riding on a donkey, the foal of a donkey.” In this act of riding on a donkey Jesus was declaring, “I am the king you have been waiting for!”
2. Jesus cleanses the temple.
In his first act in the city, Jesus brings a lot of attention in his direction as he overturns the tables of the money changers. Jesus then explains His actions by quoting Isaiah 56:7. “And He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robbers’ den.’” These prophetic words point to his kingship, not simply of the Jews, but rather of all nations.
3. Jesus heals the blind and the lame.
Jesus demonstrates His healing power as he again fulfills the words of an Old Testament prophet. Again, the prophet is Isaiah, who in Chapter 35 describes the coming kingship of the Messiah like this, “Take courage, fear not…The recompense of God will come, But He will save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened. And . . . Then the lame will leap like a deer” (35:4-6).
4.Jesus accepted the praise of the children.
As the Chief Priests are indignant over the children essentially chanting, “The king is here, the king is here!” Jesus receives their praise and he quotes Psalm 8 where children are praising God.
A final bold declaration of his kingship.
The triumphal entry of Jesus reinforces the fact that Jesus is King. We do not get the option of deciding if Jesus is king or not. Jesus is King! Our only option is to decide if we will yield to his Kingship over our lives. We all are familiar with a yield sign on the road way. As we approach this sign it means another gets the right of way. This true of our lives as well. Jesus receives the right of way in our lives because He is King. When Jesus is king of our lives we yield to him. We take our hands off the controls of our lives and we allow Him to be in control. This is the heart of what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). When Jesus is truly our king, the top desire of our heart, is to do all things, His way. The Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:23 “that whatever we do, we work at with all your heart as for the Lord.” Are you yielding all things to the King of Kings? The Reformed Church missionary Samuel Zwemer said, “Unless Jesus is Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.”
Head Pastor, Bob Karel
