Scripture Reading: John 12:12 -16
The triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem is both exciting and devastatingly sad. Exciting, because the crowds are surrounding Jesus, waving palm branches and honoring him as King of Israel. Sad, because in a very short period of time they would dishonor him, betray him, and cry out for him to be crucified. What happened? Simply put, Jesus was not the king they expected or wanted. The crowds praised Jesus because they thought he would deliver them from Rome’s bondage. They turned on him, quickly, when they realized this is not what he came to do. He was not the king everyone was expecting, but he was the perfect king they needed. The king was indeed preparing to take his throne, but first he had to offer up his life as a sacrifice so that we could have life everlasting. King Jesus, with great power defeated our enemies, but it wasn’t Rome he sought to conquer. Sin, death, and Satan were defeated at the cross. As the perfect king, Jesus was crushed so that we could be saved, and he delivered us from enemies far greater than Rome.
As you meditate on this passage, put yourself in the place of the crowds. Would you have turned so quickly? The honest answer – I believe – is yes. Even today we are quick to turn on Jesus when he doesn’t deliver as we expect. And when we feel like he hasn’t delivered/provided for us like we think he should, we turn, quickly, to other, far lesser things seeking that they would rule our lives. Let us give thanks for such passages as this one, passages that help us remember that Jesus may not be the king we expect him to be, but he is always the perfect king that we need.
Prayer: King Jesus, strengthen my dependence and trust in you as ruler of my life. I trust you as the perfect and only king I need, and I want you to have every part of my life.
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