As Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, it marked the beginning of Holy Week and revealed profound truths about His kingship and our response to His presence. This pivotal moment shows us how the King of Kings chose to make His entrance in an unexpected way.
Why Did Jesus Choose to Enter on a Donkey?
Jesus’s choice to enter Jerusalem on an unbroken colt was no accident. It fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah that described the king coming “lowly and riding on a donkey.” This humble entrance stood in stark contrast to how earthly kings typically arrived – on tall war horses as conquering heroes.
This paradoxical scene – the King of Glory on a borrowed donkey – demonstrated Jesus’s pattern of upending societal expectations. He entered not as a military conqueror but as the Prince of Peace, mirroring His humble birth in a manger.
How Should We Respond to Jesus’s Presence?
The crowd’s reaction to Jesus’s entry presents us with two clear responses:
Praise and Celebration – Many disciples joyfully praised God, laying down garments and palm branches while crying “Hosanna!” (meaning “save now”)
Rejection – The religious leaders were bothered by the implications of Jesus as king and asked Him to quiet His followers
What Makes Praise the Proper Response?
True praise should be:
Joyful – Coming from genuine gladness about who God is
Personal – Based on our own experiences with God
Imaginative – Engaging both heart and mind
Daily – Part of our regular life rhythm
What Happens When We Miss Jesus’s Visitation?
Jesus wept over Jerusalem because many failed to recognize “the time of God’s coming.” The same crowd that shouted “Hosanna!” would cry “Crucify Him!” days later because they wanted a military revolutionary rather than the Prince of Peace who came to defeat humanity’s true enemies – sin and death.
Life Application
Jesus desires to enter not just Jerusalem, but your heart – not for a day of celebration, but for a lifetime of transformation. This week, consider:
Questions to reflect on:
How do I respond when Jesus shows up in my life?
Am I giving Him proper praise and recognition as King?
What areas of my life need to be surrendered to His lordship?
Challenge: Make time each day this week to intentionally praise Jesus, remembering His humble entry and ultimate sacrifice. Let your daily activities become acts of worship by inviting Him into every aspect of your life.
Remember: The King of Glory stands at the door. The proper response is not just temporary celebration, but complete surrender to His lordship in our lives.
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
