“The presence of Christ the King is always good news of victory.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 3, 2025
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!” John 12:12-15, ESV
In the Bible and throughout history, people often struggle to rightly identify Jesus. Is he a philosopher? A wise teacher? A political revolutionary?
When we look at the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we see him as he truly is: the King of Kings who has come to deliver his people from their captivity. When the people cry out, “Hosanna!” (save us!), truer words have never been directed toward Jesus. In that moment, he is seen as he truly is and they respond with a cry for deliverance, a cry that should daily flow from our own hearts as we seek to lay our palm branches before the King of Kings.
Yes, as John reminds us by quoting Zechariah 9:9, our king indeed is coming, and there is nothing to fear (John 12:15). However, as the events of Holy Week made abundantly clear, our King comes in an unexpected and surprising way. This was true then, and it is true now.
Citizens do not get to tell the king how he should rule. As an American, this is, quite literally, a foreign concept to me! Yet it is essential that you and I approach our Lord and King, not as a democratically elected representative, but as humble and gracious servants who live under his righteous rule.
The king can do whatever he wants! If he were a wicked king, this would be very bad news, indeed. Yet the kingly rule of God is born out of the truth that he is love incarnate, and every action, even and especially when we don’t understand it, is directed toward our good and the flourishing of his kingdom. So when God surprises you, when the King enters on a lowly colt that leads him to Calvary, when he doesn’t answer prayers in the way you expect or even want, do not despair. Your King is coming, and his presence is always good news of victory.
Prayer
Father, remind us today of the truth that, in Jesus, our King has come, and help us to serve him joyfully, knowing his rule is always for our good. Amen.
Application
Give thanks to God today that you are a citizen in his perfect kingdom.
Related Reading
Matthew 2:2; John 18:36-37; Revelation 19:16
Worship Resource
Jon Guerra: Jesus
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