Scripture Daily

Context No. 3963 of 4322 · John

Context · Reflection

John 12:12-19: in context

12On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” 14Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, 15“Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 16His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him. 17The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead was testifying about it. 18For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign. 19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, a great crowd greets him with palm branches and shouts of Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. They hail him as king, and indeed he is. But notice how the King comes: not on a war horse, as a conquering general, but on a young donkey, in fulfillment of the prophecy, fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.

This is the manner of Christ's kingship. He comes as king, but a humble king, riding a lowly donkey, a picture of peace rather than conquest. The crowd wanted a triumphant deliverer to overthrow Rome, and within days, when he did not meet that expectation, many would turn against him. But Jesus was, and is, a different kind of king, one who would win not by force of arms but by humbling himself to the cross. There is something worth pondering in this humble entry. The King we follow is not the kind the world expects or wants, a strong man imposing his will, but a humble King who came in peace and conquered through self-giving love.

Do I welcome Jesus as the humble King he truly is, who came in peace and conquered through self-giving love, rather than demanding the triumphant, forceful deliverer of my own expectations?

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