John 12:12-15
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: "Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."
Throughout his life, Jesus would come and leave Jerusalem many times, but none like this one and this is his last time in the city, attracting so much attention. In the past when Jesus healed the sick, he told them to keep everything to themselves; he would take shelter in the hills or wilderness when the crowd wished that he became their king; the bible even mentioned that for the few times that he came to Jerusalem, he entered stealthily; God would always refrain from stirring up the crowd. But this time it's different, it seemed he purposely put himself before the crowd, he asked his disciples to prepare a young donkey, he also allowed the crowd to greet him along the ways, praising him the king of kings.
Why did Jesus Christ enter the city in a different way this time? It is to proclaim to the people that he is the Messiah, the Savior and the King. Many people wrongly believed that sitting on a young donkey was a sign of humility, because we think the king should travel with a brigade, if not with a brigade, he should sit on a beautiful white horse. Probably because of this reason, although it caught the full attention of the entire Jerusalem when Jesus entered the city, it did not draw too much scrutiny from the Roman government; how significant can one enter the city sitting on a young donkey? In fact, people familiar with the Old Testament would know that the king ascended the throne sitting on a donkey. So when Jesus deliberately rode the donkey to enter the city, the people and the Pharisees knew immediately: He is the king of glory.
Even Jesus came to Jerusalem as the king of glory, he was full of humility and gentleness; he never force the people to accept him. He could have brought the army of angels to eradicate the power against him, but he is willing to use the love of the cross to attract us, to wait for us, until we are willing to love and serve him. The book of Revelation tells us that even unto this present, he is still standing outside the doors of our hearts, not attacking, trespassing, battering, but knocking the door, for those that hear his voice and open the door, he will enter our lives to guide us. Brothers and sisters, are you willing to let Jesus come into your lives, not only as your savior, but as the lord of your life, to guide you for the rest of your life?
Pray with Pastor Tong
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