The King Comes in Meekness
"As they approached Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." - Matthew 21:1-11
As we reflect upon Matthew 21:1-11, we witness a powerful moment in the life of Christ, where the King of Kings enters Jerusalem not on a mighty steed but on a humble donkey. This passage unfolds with tremendous significance, as it not only fulfills ancient prophecy but also sets the stage for what will transpire in the days to come—the culmination of Christ’s earthly mission.
As they approached Jerusalem, Jesus instructs two of His disciples to go into a nearby village where they would find a donkey and her colt. We find in His words a profound assurance: "if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them." (Matthew 21:3 KJV). This simple directive reveals a deep truth about divine authority and providence. When the Lord calls upon something or someone for His purpose, we can be assured that those involved will be responsive to His command. The phrase "The Lord hath need of them" is a powerful reminder for us today. It invites reflection on how the Lord seeks to use our lives and resources for His glory, reinforcing the notion that our obedience to His call is significant in His grand plan.
The act of sending for a donkey is starkly contrasted with the expectations of a conquering King. Zechariah 9:9, from which this narrative draws its fulfillment, prophesies, "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass" (Matthew 21:5 KJV). In the sight of men, a king is expected to arrive in splendor and military power, but Jesus chooses to embody humility. This moment encourages us to examine our understanding of leadership and strength. Jesus exemplifies a kind of leadership rooted in meekness, calling us to reconsider the ways we wield power in our lives. True authority, it seems, is often accompanied by a gentle spirit and a readiness to serve.
Upon entering Jerusalem, Jesus is greeted by a multitude who spread their garments on the road and waved palm branches, shouting, "Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9 KJV). Herein lies a striking duality; while the crowds rejoice in recognition of Jesus’ messianic identity, they are unaware of the events that will shortly unfold—the betrayal, the crucifixion, the agony of Gethsemane. Yet, in this jubilant welcoming, we see an example of the exuberant praise that our hearts should echo. The crowd’s cry of "Hosanna" indicates not only a shout of praise but also a plea for salvation. This brings forth an important question: are we, too, prepared to welcome Christ into our hearts with the same kind exuberance and longing for salvation?
As the city is moved and collectively questions, "Who is this?" (Matthew 21:10 KJV), we are invited to reflect on our response to Jesus. Each person’s journey in knowing Christ will look different, but each encounter is undeniably transformative. The response of the multitude calling Him "Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee" is a beautiful portrayal of their recognition, yet not fully understanding His divine identity.
In this passage, as we prepare our hearts for the coming celebration of Easter, let us remember that the King comes not only for the world but for each of us personally. His entry into Jerusalem is met with acclamation, yet within the week He will face rejection and suffering. This juxtaposition speaks to the heart of the Gospel; He actively chooses love and sacrifice over power and glory. May we honor His entrance in our lives by acknowledging both His majesty and His humility, inviting His presence to reign in our daily choices, and echoing the praises of our hearts. Jesus, our King, comes in meekness—not only to ride into a city but to transform our very souls.
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Matthew 21:1-11 Artwork
Matthew 21:1-11
"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large 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 shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”" - Matthew 21:1-11
Matthew 21:1-11 - "As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large 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 shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”"
Matthew 21:11 - "And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee."
Matthew 21
Matthew 21:31
Matthew 21:25
Matthew 11:1
Matthew 11:1
"And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." - Matthew 21:11
Matthew 11:3
Matthew 21:1 - "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,"
Acts 1:1-11
Acts 1:1-11
Matthew 1:11 - "And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:"
Matthew 11:21 - "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."
Matthew 4:1-11…Jesus in the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil
Matthew 4:1-11..Jesus in the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil
Matthew 4:1-11…Jesus in the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil
Matthew 9:21
Matthew 9:21-22
1 Chronicles 21:11 - "So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee"
Matthew 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
Matthew 9:21-22
Matthew 9:21-22
Matthew 9:21-22
Matthew 9:21-22
1 Chronicles 11:21 - "Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three."
1 Corinthians 11:21 - "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken."
Matthew 25:21