Jesus, the Coming King
Scripture Reading — Luke 19:28-42
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. . . . He will proclaim peace to the nations.
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his visit to the temple must have brought vivid reminders to the people who witnessed these events. Historical sources tell us that in a famous parade Alexander the Great was welcomed into Jerusalem with pomp and circumstance. Later Judas Maccabeus attempted to show that he was both king and priest by arriving amid singing and merrymaking with palm branches, followed by a sacrifice in the temple. Jesus, however, was demonstrating that he is our only High Priest and eternal King.
Jesus did not enter Jerusalem on a war horse but on a donkey, a lowly animal of peace that was also known as a princely mount. What kind of king was Jesus? On Palm Sunday, when we quote Zechariah 9 to celebrate this day, we often include only verse 9. Jesus is a righteous and victorious king. But verse 10 speaks about removing weapons of war and proclaiming peace to the nations.
So come into the temple of our heart, Jesus. Come into our homes and marriages; come into our relationships; enter our cities and nations and their politics and economic life. Speak a message of peace that we can repeat again and again as individuals, as your church, as the people of your kingdom. Hosanna in the highest!
Lord Jesus, you have all authority in heaven and on earth. May we all hear your message of peace—and may we act with righteousness and justice as you call us to. Amen.
About the author — Dean Deppe
Dean Deppe has been a pastor in inner-city, suburban, and rural churches. Currently he teaches New Testament theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. His courses include one on the parables of Jesus. He and his wife have four grown children.
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