They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
These two simple verses hold a weight of meaning as they contrast each other in ways that we may miss. The disciples brought Jesus a donkey to ride into Jerusalem according to His instruction. As He rode in, we see the crowds greeting Jesus with great respect and excitement.
The people of Israel had been awaiting the promised coming King and Messiah. The Jewish people lived under the oppression of the Roman Empire and had cried out to God with countless prayers for freedom. The issue the people of Israel had is very similar to the issue that we have today.
Jesus came into Jerusalem purposefully on a donkey. It was very unusual for a King to ride such a lowly animal, though it could happen during times of peace. Typically, a conquering King who was looking to establish His greatness would ride in on a large horse or chariot or leading an army.* Jesus purposefully communicates with His act of riding on a donkey that He comes as the King of Peace rather than a conquerer.
The crowds miss this however. In their desperation for liberation from Roman oppression, they greet Him not as a King of Peace, but as a conquering King. Their use of palm branches laid at the feet of Jesus was an act traditionally used for triumphant entrees.* Their act ignored what Jesus was communicated about Himself and His purpose, and they attempted to impose their purpose for Jesus onto Him.
This is the problem we have today. Jesus comes to each of us, knocking on the door of our hearts, desiring to enter the domain of our lives, and seeking to come as the King of Peace. The salvation He brings requires a quiet surrender to His will. It requires us to acknowledge that the peace we seek does not come from an absence of earthly hardship but from the presence of the King of Peace in our lives. He comes with an invitation to allow Him to serve as Savior and not as a warrior who will overtake and override all in our lives that we want removed.
Too often we impose our desire for freedom from circumstances on Christ. We experience difficulty in our lives and approach Christ as if His job is to make our lives easier by overtaking and overthrowing earthly kingdoms. A day will come when He will return to do that very thing, but in this season of human history, Christ desires to enter your space as the King of Peace. He desires first to bring you peace even in the presence of your enemies; He desires to bring you calm even in the storm.
The difference between the savior we want and the savior that He is (and that we need) can create disappointment in our hearts. We expect that Christ would change our circumstances right now. We expect that Christ would not allow us to suffer under poor leadership or oppressive authority. We expect Jesus to be the savior that we want now; He is here for our needs today and tomorrow.
Freedom from difficulty will come and your circumstances will eventually change. Your boss won’t be your boss forever. Your difficulty will end. But Jesus is here for you today.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to experience Christ as the King of Peace even in your difficult circumstance. Perhaps God wants you to lay down the expectation for Jesus that you have and allow Him to define His purpose in your life today. Maybe today God wants to heal your disappointment in Him and He’s asking you to bring it to Him.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 517–524, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 21:1–11) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).