As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Mat 21:1-11).

The incident above, which we usually call “Palm Sunday,” is recorded in Matt 21:1-11. This event fulfils Zechariah 9:9 which was prophesied about 500 years earlier, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech 9:9). It took place several days before Jesus was betrayed and died on the cross. What is ironical is that in less than a week’s time, these same people who praised and exalted Jesus as king called for his crucifixion on the cross. What caused Jesus to fall into disfavour with the Jews? The reason can be found in how Jesus is portrayed here, where He enters Jerusalem as a king who rides on a donkey: “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Matt 21:5). This shows that Jesus is a gentle and humble king. The people had wanted Jesus to free them from Roman oppression, to regain for them the glory of the past when Israel had a king to fight wars and to take care of the needs of the Jews. But when they realised that Jesus was not about to fulfil their expectations, they were disillusioned with Him and rejected Him as their king and Messiah.

Dear Christians, when Jesus first came to the world about 2000 years ago, He came as a humble king to die for you and me. The reason why He died on the cross was not because He was powerless. The opposite is true: Jesus’ power is activated by His death on the cruel and shameful cross. Jesus had to die so that you do not die in hell for eternity. You have sinned against God in thought, word and deed and you deserve to die. But Jesus loves you and He willingly took your punishment because it is “by His wounds [that] we are healed” (Isa 53:5).

Take heart, however, because there will come a day when Christians will live in God’s eternal and glorious kingdom. He will destroy all enemies and Satan. Jesus will return to earth one day and that day will be soon. Those who are dead will rise up with a resurrection body, never to die again. If we are alive, our bodies will change into this same resurrection body (1 Thess 4:14-17). We will all one day enter God’s eternal kingdom, the new heavens and new earth (2 Pet 3:13). For now before Jesus returns, we must all walk as He did: in humility and self-denial. This is what the Bible teaches: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me” (Matt 16:24); “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor 12:9). Then, there will be victory now and then in the age to come.