As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, riding on a small donkey, his followers greeting him joyfully, saying “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Yet, in only a few days Jesus would completely upset their expectations for what his kingship would entail. We also have expectations for Jesus as our King or Lord. But are we willing to let him be truly and fully the sovereign over all of our lives? How will we welcome King Jesus today?
Hosanna is a transliteration of a Hebrew phrase that meant “Save us, now!” and was often used as an expression of praise to God. Luke, writing for a Gentile audience that would not have known the meaning of hosanna, captured the sense of this word in his description of the disciples who “began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice” (19:37).
Luke tells us that the people welcomed Jesus as “the king who comes in the name of the Lord” (19:38). They saw him as fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, “Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Those who welcomed Jesus that day expected him to deliver Israel from Roman oppression and to establish God’s kingdom with peace, not just for Israel, but for all nations (see Zechariah 9:10).
The crowd on what we call Palm Sunday did not have any idea what Jesus would soon do with his royal authority. They could not have imagined that in only a few days a sign would be posted for Jesus in Jerusalem with the words, “This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38). Yet this sign would intend to mock his royalty as he was dying on a Roman cross, an apparent victim of Roman sovereignty. Hardly what one expected of a king!
When we acknowledge Jesus as the King over our lives – often using the more common title of “Lord” – we bring our own expectations about what this means. Perhaps we envision Jesus as having authority mainly over the personal and “spiritual” parts of our lives. Or perhaps we imagine some kind of co-regency, in which we are equal partners with Jesus in governing our lives. Maybe we focus so much on Jesus as our Savior – which he is, thanks be to God! – what we ignore his role as King or Lord. Or, it may be that we truly seek for Jesus to be, not just a king in our lives, but the King of kings and Lord of lords. We see our chief purpose in life as serving our King in everything we do and say.
Let me encourage you to consider what it might mean for you to welcome Jesus as your King in a deeper and truer way today. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord . . . to you!
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