Once a king in a little country on the corner of civilization was so wise and wealthy others sought his favor. He sat on a throne of gold and ivory. Each of his 500 royal guards had shields of gold. His extravagant temple would take billions of dollars to build today. People considered him to be the wisest of human beings. But a greater than Solomon is arriving in town today!
A young king of Macedonia created the greatest kingdom on earth in his day. His rule stretched from Egypt to Russia and India. The great cities of Damascus, Nineveh, Babylon fell to him. His influence continued for centuries. People called him and he called himself Alexander the Great. But a greater than Alexander is arriving in town today!
Jesus of Nazareth, never prince but forever an eternal king, clothed his royal divinity in human flesh. He walked and talked with everyday people. He healed and worked mighty miracles. His teaching amazed those who heard. His time had come to demonstrate to Jerusalem, the city of David, his royal claim.
What kind of extravaganza would this be?
Britain’s prince William and Kate Middleton are to be married April 29. The event is expected to cost British taxpayers 48 million dollars. The declaration of April 29 as a national holiday will cost Brits about 9.6 billion dollars. No small party!
Barack Obama’s inauguration in January, 2009, in the midst of what he called the worst economy since the Great Depression, cost about 170 million dollars. Again, no small party!
How much was spent when the King of Kings made his triumphal entry into the capital city of Jerusalem? It was without cost, without fanfare, without media people brandishing cameras. Oh he used a borrowed unbroken colt, a few cloaks instead of a saddle, and branches cut from the field. Yet, praise quoted from an ancient prophet was proclaimed.
Rather than giving a speech he declared his messianic kingship by riding peacefully from the area of the Mount of Olives into the city to the temple. He said nothing. After looking and walking around he turned back to the east and with his twelve disciples ascended the Mount of Olives going to its east side to the city of Bethany where he spent the night.
William Barclay describes it as an act of sheer courage. “It was an act of glorious defiance and of superlative courage.” Jesus has a price on his head (John 11:57). One might have expected a secret entrance into the city. Jesus forced them to give attention to him in this center stage. “It is a breathtaking thing to think of a man who with a price on his head, an outlaw, deliberately riding into a city in such a way that every eye was fixed upon him.”
Are you honoring Jesus as King and Lord of your life?