| A Different Kind of Kingdom |
A Different Kind of Kingdom
Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is
written: "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting
on a donkey's colt."
— John 12:14–15
The Bible tells us that when Passover took place, Jerusalem,— being
the spiritual capital of Judaism,— teemed with visitors. People were
everywhere. Not only that, but word traveled like wildfire that Jesus was
there. Everyone was talking about it.
You see, Jesus was getting ready to make a very significant move. This
was the moment He was waiting for. The hour had come for Him to
begin His road to Calvary. He was about to fulfill Scripture's prophecies.
The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm
trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is
He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!" Then
Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
"Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a
donkey's colt." (John 12:12–15)
Luke's Gospel tells us they thought the kingdom of God would appear
immediately. They thought Jesus Christ would come in and say, "I am
now the King of Israel," and then overthrow the Romans who had kept
them in bondage. Hosanna! Finally, we are going to be free from this
tyranny!
But there was a different significance. For the Jews, Jesus was saying,
"I am your Messiah." And for Rome, He was saying, "I am your King.
But My kingdom is not of this world."
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem that day was not to take the crown, but to
wear a crown of thorns—for all of us.
Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is
written: "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting
on a donkey's colt."
— John 12:14–15
The Bible tells us that when Passover took place, Jerusalem,— being
the spiritual capital of Judaism,— teemed with visitors. People were
everywhere. Not only that, but word traveled like wildfire that Jesus was
there. Everyone was talking about it.
You see, Jesus was getting ready to make a very significant move. This
was the moment He was waiting for. The hour had come for Him to
begin His road to Calvary. He was about to fulfill Scripture's prophecies.
The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm
trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is
He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!" Then
Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
"Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a
donkey's colt." (John 12:12–15)
Luke's Gospel tells us they thought the kingdom of God would appear
immediately. They thought Jesus Christ would come in and say, "I am
now the King of Israel," and then overthrow the Romans who had kept
them in bondage. Hosanna! Finally, we are going to be free from this
tyranny!
But there was a different significance. For the Jews, Jesus was saying,
"I am your Messiah." And for Rome, He was saying, "I am your King.
But My kingdom is not of this world."
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem that day was not to take the crown, but to
wear a crown of thorns—for all of us.
| C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside , CA 92514 |