A Triumphant Victory
For over 400 years, the people of Israel waited and wondered as they endured persecution and painful abuse at the hands of harsh, foreign rulers. For weeks and months and decades, they clung to words from prophets like Isaiah and Zechariah that foretold of a time when their enemies would be destroyed.
The Jewish people were waiting for a powerful man who would overthrow the Roman Empire and take his rightful place as king and conqueror. And then one day, a renowned Rabbi (who had just raised a man from the dead) came to the capital city of Jerusalem, riding on a donkey—an animal often associated with kingship and peace.
But Jesus wasn’t just a man—He was God and man. And this wasn’t just a triumphal entry into Jerusalem: it was a determined, faith-filled march toward the crucifixion that awaited Him.
He would become king: but not in the way the Jews were expecting. However, His followers knew there was something special about Him, shouting and singing...
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Luke 19:38 NIV
In just a few short days, Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city would turn into a triumphant victory over the strongest enemies of all: death, the devil, and eternal separation from God. But this victory would cost Jesus His life, and His death would be cheered by some of the same crowd praising His arrival.
His sacrifice cost Him everything—but it gave us everything.
It’s because Jesus sacrificed Himself for us that we can now come unashamedly before Him.
So today, reflect on how Jesus’ faith-filled obedience resulted in your permanent reconciliation with God. Then, spend some time blessing and praising the King who came in the name of the Lord.
“Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel. Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it ...