“Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!
” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Blessed is the coming
kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:10).
“No
Kings – a
movement peacefully mobilizing millions of people to take to the streets and
declare with one voice — America has No Kings.”
Today we celebrate Jesus’
triumphal entry into Jerusalem. According to John’s gospel it wasn’t Jesus’
first visit to Jerusalem.
This day, Jesus entered
Jerusalem followed by his disciples and a sizeable crowd. He entered Jerusalem
riding on a donkey…acclaimed by people and enjoying a procession fit for a
king.
For many of his followers
that day, his entry was the fulfilment of a prophecy regarding the much
expected king, prophecy found in Zechariah’s book: “Rejoice greatly,
Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous
and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
They saw Jesus as the
promised king on his way to Jerusalem to claim the throne of David. The shouts
gave them away, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna
in the highest!” (Mark 11:10).
Jesus was a different kind
of king. He was a king who did consider what he was getting into. Let me remind
you his words, “Or suppose a king is
about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and
consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming
against him with twenty thousand?” (Luke 14:31).
Jesus was a king going to war with another king – the ruler of this world – the prince of darkness. He knew his adversary very well. The adversary didn’t stand a chance! Jesus is the king to follow. No Kings…but Jesus!