This coming week is the most important week in human history. It marks the end of Jesus’s earthly ministry and the ushering in of God’s redemptive grace through the cross. As Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, he was greeted by great crowds of people waving their palm branches and shouting out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!” It was an absolutely joyous occasion. The King of Israel has finally come to deliver them from the hands of Rome. They were liberated! Rome was finally going to get what they deserved! Or so they thought.
The Israelites were expecting Jesus to burst in roaring like a lion, only to realize that He entered meekly as a lamb. Surely this is a mistake! This cannot be. This is all wrong! The truth is, however, they should have seen this coming. After all, it was prophesied by Zechariah 500 years prior:
Zechariah 9:9 NKJV
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
If Jesus was coming in as a conqueror like they expected, He would have been riding a big, beautiful stallion, like generals did after victorious battles. Instead, he rode in as a messenger of peace on a lowly donkey. Not only that, He was going to be sacrificed like the 256,500 lambs brought in for the Passover Feast (according to Josephus). He would be the greatest of these lambs. The ultimate lamb that was slain. Six days later, many of the same people that were shouting “Hosanna!” began screaming out, “Crucify Him!” He was then beaten savagely and hung on a cross to die.
Thank the LORD that the story did not end there. Three days later, Jesus rose up from that grave. He defeated death! He bore the sins of the entire world. He freed us from the bondage of sin. He paid the price we could never pay. He reconciled us to God and now sits at God’s right hand interceding for us.
The Israelites did not get what they wanted at the time, but they sure got what they needed. We all did! Hopefully this can be a reminder to all of us that God’s ways are surely not our ways. How many times in our lives do we think we know what is best? How many times do we try to tell God what He should do? How many times do we think God should have done some things differently? If we step back and think about this, we realize how foolish this way of thinking truly is. God had an ultimate plan for mankind’s redemption. God also has a plan for each of our lives and we should put our complete trust in Him. It sounds so simple. That’s because it is.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Let us continue to pray that we do not get entangled in worldly thoughts or desires. Let us continue to avoid complicating life. It can be difficult enough already. Let us walk in the wisdom that God always has our best interest at heart, even when we cannot see it or understand it. Trust the process. His process. Let us continue seeking Him and pray Paul’s prayer in Hebrews 13:20-21
Hebrews 13: 20-21 NLT
Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,[e]
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
Wayne Errig