The King Is Here

John 12:12-15
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
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The King Is Here
Just as the prophet Zechariah had foretold some 500 plus years before, the daughters of Jerusalem coming to celebrate the Passover would see their King coming, seated on a donkey.  This triumphal entry into the city by Jesus was met with mixed emotions.  On the one hand, the cheering crowds greeted what they perceived to be an earthly messiah, the one to unfetter the yoke of Roman oppression. On the other hand, the religious leaders reacted in fear and anger, as they saw a rival to their power and position in the community.
Lest we be too quick to judge the people of Jesus’ day, consider how often we mistake Jesus for something other than what He is.  We see a genie to grant us wishes, making us healthy, wealthy, and wise. We see a hall monitor getting us in trouble when all we want to do is have a little fun. We see a judge condemning us for all our mistakes. But by faith, our eyes are opened to see Christ for who He really is: our King, come to set us free from our sin. Our King, come to lay down His life for His people.