“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 shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:8-9

At first glance this looks like the biggest celebration Jerusalem had ever seen. No doubt, it was an incredible day, enough to cause quite a stir among the enemies of Jesus. But think about it. What the people desired was a mock procession of a conquering king. Philip Yancey, in The Jesus I Never Knew, imagines a Roman soldier riding up to check out the disturbance. He had seen processions done right. The conquering general sits in a chariot of gold, with stallions straining at the reins and wheel spikes flashing in the sunlight. Following him would be officers in polished armor displaying the banners from the vanquished armies. Following that was often a procession of captured slaves and prisoners in chains, showing just what Rome does to those who are against her.

The soldier peers through the crowd to catch the object of the crowd’s attention. He can hardly believe his eyes. He sees a solitary, forlorn figure, weeping, riding on no stallion or chariot, but on the back of a baby donkey with a borrowed blanket across its back. There may have been a bit of triumph in the air on Palm Sunday, but nothing that would have impressed Rome. Not for long anyway. This same crowd would be shouting, “Crucify Him!” just a few days later. And yet, this solitary man seems to be directing the entire process of events…

“…but made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:7-8

Pray: Lord, I humble myself before You. You could have come as a conquering king and held on to all the rights and privileges that were Yours as God. But You humbled Yourself and took on the form of a servant and died for me. I will do the same for You today.