“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.’” Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5
Palm Sunday is the Holy Day celebrated the world over in churches and cathedrals honoring the sacred moment when Jesus of Nazareth rode into Jerusalem on a donkey beginning His journey to the cross. He wasn’t the only leader entering Jerusalem during Passover. On the other side of town we know that Pontius Pilate would have been journeying into the city of Jerusalem as well. Pilate surrounded by his legions and riding a war horse would have been there for entirely different reasons than Jesus.
On Sunday I contrasted the difference of kingdoms we see playing out before our very eyes on Palm Sunday. On one side of town we have Pilate arriving representing the kingdom of Rome led by the will and vision of Caesar. We can almost hear the soldiers feet hitting the dirt roads in unison as they march towards the city of Jerusalem. They are arriving to make sure the city and its population behaves itself during the Passover festival. Pilate will spend his time in the palace – watching, waiting, and keeping the city in check. Jerusalem is under Roman rule and therefore abides by Roman law. It is victim to the vision, purposes, and plans of Rome.
On the other side of Jerusalem coming from Bethpage we find Jesus of Nazareth riding on a donkey. Gentle. Not on a warhorse. Not with legions of soldiers. Gentle. Aware of the will of God. Gentle. In tune with the kingdom of Heaven. Gentle. Surrendered to His Heavenly Father’s purpose, plans, and vision for the world. Jesus of Nazareth knows that prophets go to Jerusalem to die. He is no fool. He has spent His three years of ministry teaching, preaching, confounding religious leaders and Gentile leaders as He pointed to the kingdom of Heaven – where Caesar is not king. Pilate, Herod, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Judas would all work together to see Jesus executed. Even the High Priest Caiaphas would justify this one man dying for the sins of all.
Two kingdoms with two different leaders were Jerusalem on Palm Sunday:
Our daily task is to yield our lives to the kingdom of Heaven – the kingdom Jesus freely gives us. The kingdom of Rome may be well and gone, but it’s source is not. The same principalities, powers and darkness are at play today. The evil one is always seeking to kill, steal and destroy. The evil one attempts daily to have our hearts bow the Pilates of this world and their ways of living. But, they are undone time and again by the gentle Jesus of Nazareth whose teachings, life, death, and resurrection overcame the powers of darkness. Follow this Jesus of Nazareth. Yield your heart to His. Take His yoke upon you for it is easy and the burden is light. Don’t yield to the idols and treasures of earth. May this Holy Week serve as a reminder to you and me that our allegiance is to Christ and His Kingdom.
Paul Deary 