September 17

The Royal Triumph

“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” — Matt 21:5-9 BSB

The King of Glory approached the Holy City, not on a richly adorned warhorse or accompanied by a glittering army, but humbly riding a donkey, followed by a crowd of rustic pilgrims! He wasn’t welcomed by Governor Pilate or Caiaphas the High Priest, but by children, the poor, the blind, and the lame whom He had healed. His lodging was the bare ground on the Mount of Olives, and on at least one occasion, He was hungry enough to seek fruit from a fig tree.

Yet there was a mysterious power in Him that drove out the rabble who filled the Temple courts with noise and filth, and that even the chief priests and scribes had to recognize when they questioned His authority (Matt 21:23). His authority was rooted in Truth, Purity, and God. It was a glimpse of His intrinsic majesty. One who knew Him closely said, “We beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Soul of man, your King also comes to you! Open the gates of your heart and let Him in! You may initially fear the upheaval His coming suggests, but be quick to surrender all to Emmanuel, the Prince. Enthrone Him in your heart! He is the rightful King and Heir, and He will make you a joint-heir with Him. Let the kingdom of your life become the Kingdom of God and of His Christ. Let every thought be brought into submission to Him. But if you choose to build your life apart from Him, be sure you are rejecting the one Chief Cornerstone that can give stability and beauty to your life’s structure. Without it, your life’s work may crumble into nothing (Matt 7:27; 1 Cor 3:10-15).

Prayer

But chiefest in our cleansed breast,
Eternal, bid Thy Spirit rest;
And make our secret soul to be
A temple pure and worthy Thee.
Hosanna in the highest! Amen.