Luke 19:28-40 - The King No-One Expected

Jesus is entering Jerusalem and He is being welcomed through the laying down of cloaks on the road, which was a gesture of great respect and a declaration of complete allegiance as they recognised Jesus’ authority, or at least what they presumed that authority signified. That allegiance was short-lived!

Everyone “knew” that the Messiah would come to bring freedom for Israel and re-establish it as a great power, with removing the Romans as one of the first great victories the new King would bring about.

But Jesus was not that kind of King. The first clue is His telling the disciples to bring Him the foal of a donkey so that He could ride it into the city. This not only fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 but also signalled that He came as the humble, saving Prince of Peace.

Jesus did not come to reign over nations through political power or territorial conquest. He came to conquer much greater enemies than the mighty Roman Empire. He came to conquer sin and death, to defeat the powers of evil, and to bring God’s justice and peace to the whole world.

Jesus was not the King the people expected, but He was and is the King we all need. Is He your King? Does He have your complete allegiance?