First Impressions
“And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:9-10)
As the old saying goes, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.” Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem is no exception. For the Savior who so often eschewed publicity and fanfare, we must begin to ask a question: what impression is Jesus’ making? What does He want to impress upon us?
First, Jesus’ impression is one of a king. The crowds understood His messaging loud and clear, for they sang of that kingdom promised to David and before him to Abraham (2 Sam. 7; Gen. 17:6, 49:10). We all know what kings do. Kings conquer. Jesus did not enter Jerusalem to celebrate, but to conquer sin, death, the devil, and hell. He came to face mounting opposition head-on and overthrow them by His royal wisdom. He came to take captivity captive and to set the prisoners free by royal decree (Is. 61:1-2; Ps. 2:1-6). Is this not what we saw? When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He purged the temple and invited in the lame, the blind, and the outcast (Mt. 21:12-14). He confounded the teachers of the law, untying the knots by which the Pharisees and scribes kept men and women in bondage (Luke 19:39-20:47). He took the kingdom from the hands of those who spurned His ways and gave it to those whose only claim was the king’s free grace (Luke 20:16, 24:46-49).
Second, more than a king, He was a King of Peace. Jesus came into Jerusalem, not mounted on the blazing stallion as depicted in Napoleon’s portrait. He came not with the armor of Saul nor the iron chariots of Egypt. No, he came riding upon a humble donkey. His kingdom comes not by swords and clubs, nor by power and political mechanizations; rather, His kingdom comes by way of peace. He came to proclaim a message of reconciliation, to offer a pardon of free grace to that most rebellious, stiff-necked people. Is this not what He told Pilate? “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.” (John 18:36) Is not that best demonstrated through the cross? Jesus conquered, not by taking life, but by laying down His own life for us.
Do we see a trend here? Anyone with two brain cells can wield a sword or fire a gun; using the weapons of the world comes naturally to worldly men who only aim for worldly outcomes. The King of Peace displays a greater courage by conquering the sinfulness of men by the sacrifice of self. Would we not see the Kingdom of Peace extend further into Hinds County and this country if we would but wield the same weapons? If we would lay down our pride and proclaim a message of reconciliation; if we would but set aside our priorities and sacrifice our “rights” for the purpose of the gospel; if we would but follow the King of Peace, would we not see the kingdom come in greater measure? Ask yourself this week: does my life reflect one ruled by the King of Peace?
